Self-taught, he began his career as a pizzaiolo at age 17. He received his first Michelin star in 1984 while he was a chef for only six months and they were only three in his team. He then became the chef of the restaurant Le Grand Véfour that received three Michelin stars (reduced at two stars in 2008).
In 2010 was chosen to prepare the celebratory meal of the joining of Savoie to France at the Château des ducs de Savoie in Chambéry and cooked for the former French President Nicolas Sarkozy himself.
Since 2011, he has hosted the television program Épicerie fine, for two seasons of 35 episodes, in which he travels to discover the origin of the various foods and gives tips to prepare them. The program is broadcast on TV5 Monde, Cuisine TV, Voyage et