The world of gastronomy is in mourning. Antoine Alléno, the son of three-star chef Yannick Alléno, died instantly at just 24 years old on the night of Sunday May 8 to Monday May 9. The young chef was fatally hit in the 7th arrondissement of Paris by a driver who had just stolen a car. After this drama, which left the entire profession in shock, Top Chef wanted to pay sober tribute to him this Wednesday, May 12, on his show.
The show began with the photo of the young man displayed against a black background. A strong image accompanied by a voice-over announcing that “this program is dedicated to the memory of Antoine, son of Yannick Alléno, who died in tragic circumstances on May 8, 2022”.
The 24-year-old leaves behind an inconsolable father, mother and brother. “I will close my eyes to this picture of you in the summer sun! I love you my son”, wrote this Wednesday evening the father of the young man on Instagram to accompany a sunny shot of his smiling son Antoine.
Given the drama, some Internet users wondered about Yannick Alléno’s possible participation in this 13th season of Top Chef. The chef at the head of two 3-star restaurants in France, the Pavillon Ledoyen in Paris and Le 1947 in Courchevel, will participate in an episode of this last season, which has already been recorded. The chef will indeed be present in the episode broadcast this Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 9:10 p.m. He will be there as a surprise juror to taste the dishes of the last three candidates in the running for the semi-final.
“Candidates who have not yet won their final pass will have to convince Yannick Alléno and his pastry chef Aurélien Rivoire around a product that they use in their restaurant: chocolate, which the candidates will have to cook sweet and savory” , has indeed detailed M6 in an official press release.
As a reminder, many chefs who participated in the show paid tribute to the deceased young chef and gave their support to chef Yannick Alléno. Hélène Darroze notably commented on the chef’s message with emojis of doves and hearts. Michel Sarran had meanwhile already published a story in which he explained to be “in shock of such a tragedy”. “So unfair and horrible. All my thoughts for Yannick and the whole family”, had posted in story the former juror of Top Chef.
Mohamed Cheikh at the Parisian.
Mohamed Cheikh, 29, winner of season 12 of Top chef, had rubbed shoulders with the young missing chef Antoine Alléno in recent weeks. The young man confided to the Parisian his anger and his deep sadness: “I am very religious and generally I rely on fate. But here, no. This drama is horrible and unfair. It’s the fault of a c… who stole a shitty car and mowed down everyone in his path. Antoine was just asking to go home”.
According to the daily, Antoine Alléno had imagined a burger for “Père et fils”, the street food restaurant created with his father in Beaupassage in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. “We met several times at the Ledoyen Pavilion to discuss this project. Antoine was reserved, very shy, always dressed to the nines and did not take advantage of his father’s notoriety. He was driven, kind to everyone, and always had the banana. He was very proud of his father, but he went his own way. He was promised a great career”, remembers with emotion the winner of Top Chef.