A native of France, Chef Laurent Tourondel parlayed his love of food at an early age into a four-year program at Saint Vincent Ecole de Cuisine in Montlucon, France where he earned a certificat d’aptitude professionnelle. After graduating he received his first post in the kitchen as chef to the Admiral in the French Navy. This classic French training is still evident in his current style. Following this position he worked at several restaurants in France and then traveled to London where he cooked at the famed Gentleman’s Club, Boodle’s.
In the years that followed he worked under such notable chefs as: Bruno Tison at Restaurant Beau Geste in Manhattan; Jacques Maximin at Restaurant Ledoyen in France; and at Restaurant Mercury at the Hotel InterContinental in Moscow. Tourondel then worked at the three-star Michelin Relais & Chateau Troisgros, before taking a post as Executive Chef of Potel & Chabot catering in New York where he will execute the food for different high profile people as well as The MoMA Museum, The Metropolitan Museum, Morgan Library to name a few.
Tourondel became Executive Chef of C.T., Claude Troisgros’ debut restaurant in New York where he received three stars from Ruth Reichl of The New York Times. Next came a stint as Executive Chef at Palace Court Restaurant at the world famous Caesar’s Palace Hotel & Casino, followed by his return to New York City to open Cello. After Cello, Tourondel took the opportunity to travel through South America, Asia and Africa, to further develop his own cooking voice and returned to the States to start what would become a culinary empire.
Tourondel went on to open BLT Steak, a steakhouse concept with locations in New York, Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, Scottsdale, Los Angeles, Dallas, White Plains and D.C., BLT Fish New York where received 3-star reviews from Frank Bruni in The New York Times and one Michelin Star, BLT Prime New York, BLT Burger New York, Vegas, Hong Kong, BLT Market New York, LT Burger in the Harbor and Bryant Park, BLT American Brasserie in Chicago, LT Signature and Arlington Club, Brklyn Bere Garden in JFK Airport, LT Signature in Panama, LT Bar & Grill and a Private Club named Seven in Almaty Kazakhstan. Currently, he is the Chef/Partner at Brasserie Ruhlmann in Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. In October 2007, Bon Appétit magazine named Tourondel Restaurateur of the Year. This award guaranteed his place among the top in the culinary world.
In 2015 Tourondel opened two restaurants, L’Amico & The Vine, adjacent to Kimpton Hotel Eventi, located in the Mahattan’s Chelsea area. L’Amico features an Italian menu, while The Vine, features a wine bar/cocktail lounge menu. Also located directly above the restaurants is SECOND, one of NYC’s premiere event spaces. Operated by Tourondel and spanning a full city block, SECOND offers multiple options that include beautiful individual rooms with an all weather terrace, as well as complete buyouts of the 9,000sf venue, which can accommodate 1,000 guests.
In the summer of 2016 Tourondel opened Miami LT Steak & Seafood on Ocean Drive, and The Alley, an Italian restaurant on Collins Ave at the Betsy Hotel.
In 2018 Tourondel made his return to the London dining scene with his first restaurant in Europe, Laurent at Café Royal, a Grill and Sushi Bar in the heart of the West End on the first floor of the modern grand Hotel Café Royal on Regent Street. Sag Pizza, Tourondel’s latest concept, opened August 2018 bringing his signature pies to Long Island’s East End in Sag Harbor.
For more information about Laurent, please visit his website at http://laurent-tourondel.com.