Le Chene Channels Parisian Classicism in the West Village

"I've been cooking for 15 years and dreamt of opening something in New York for maybe 13 of those years. Big dreams take time, and I've been patiently building my career and my craft to arrive in New York confident in my cooking and able to fully express what French food means to me."

"Le Chêne-the debut West Village dining room from French culinary prodigy Alexia Duchêne-feels like a portal to Paris. Resisting Manhattan brasserie pastiche and avoiding buzzy food-world affectations, it instead chooses to embrace classical French cooking presented in an understated apartment-like interior recalling the romance of the City of Lights."

"Duchêne began cooking professionally at age 15, training in demanding Michelin-starred kitchens that included Le Taillevent, Frenchie, and Passerini in Paris, followed by a formative stint at Simon Rogan's former Fera at Claridge's in London. In 2021, at age 23, she reached the semifinals of Top Chef France, a moment that accelerated her ascent."

Alexia Duchêne, a French culinary prodigy who began cooking professionally at age 15, has opened Le Chêne, her debut solo dining room in Manhattan's West Village. The restaurant features classical French cooking presented in an understated, apartment-like interior designed to evoke the atmosphere of a Parisian residence. Duchêne trained in prestigious Michelin-starred kitchens including Le Taillevent and Frenchie in Paris, and Fera at Claridge's in London. She reached the Top Chef France semifinals at 23 and worked at notable establishments including Alain Ducasse's Allard before relocating to New York in 2023. Le Chêne represents the fulfillment of her long-held ambition to establish a restaurant in New York while maintaining her commitment to authentic French culinary traditions.

Read at Galerie Magazine