Christophe Bellanca

Chef Christophe Bellanca, raised in Ardèche, France, trained at renowned kitchens including Georges Blanc in Vonnas, La Pyramide in Vienne, Régis Marcon in Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid, and six years with Anne-Sophie Pic at Maison Pic in Valence before moving to the US in 2004. Named Best New Chef at L’Orangerie in Los Angeles, he later served as Executive Chef at Le Cirque in New York City and Culinary Director for Joël Robuchon USA from 2011, overseeing L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in New York and Miami, which earned two Michelin stars. In 2022, he opened Essential by Christophe on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, earning one Michelin star in 2023.