Aude Danguy has been named Illustrator of the Year 2027 by Gault&Millau
Based near Brest, watercolorist Aude Danguy illustrated the menu created by Jérôme Banctel for the 2026 Gault&Millau Gala. Her work, characterized by great precision, earned her the title of Illustrator of the Year 2027.
A stuffed carrot, a chocolate dome topped with a lace flower, a sauce that glistens in the light: under Aude Danguy’s brush, the dishes of Jérôme Banctel, chef at Gabriel (5 toques) at La Réserve Paris, come to life in watercolor. Gault&Millau has honored the Breton artist with the title of Illustrator of the Year 2027. She is one of four French illustrators honored as part of the 2026 gala’s theme, “Food is Art,” and created the illustrations for the event’s menu.
Aude Danguy: From Editorial Design to Watercolor
Illustrator and art director Aude Danguy lives in Brittany, near Brest. In 2012, she founded Studio Piaude, which specializes in editorial design, while also developing her work in watercolor illustration and workshop activities. She has authored several books on watercolor techniques published by Marabout and fully illustrated Hugo Zeldine’s *Ma pâtisserie en neuf saveurs*, published in October 2026 by Solar. She shares her work on Instagram (@audedanguy_aquarelles) and on TikTok (@audedanguy_aquarelles).
Jérôme Banctel’s Menu, Dish by Dish
To depict each dish as accurately as possible, the illustrator was invited to sample the menu in advance. “During lunch, I photographed each plate and asked what ingredients had been used. Some dishes really surprised me,” she says.
Among them was the hot-cooked, stuffed carrot. “I’d never eaten a stuffed carrot before, and the ginger and sea fennel sauce made for an incredible combination,” she confides. Pastry Chef Jordan Talbot’s dessert featuring Venezuelan chocolate and buckwheat made just as big an impression on her: “The dome was topped with a lace-like flower of remarkable delicacy, accompanied by a glossy chocolate sauce. The whole thing was beautifully presented and truly delicious! ”
Staying true to her realistic watercolor technique, she worked from her own photographs. “My goal was to illustrate the dishes as faithfully as possible, with the utmost realism, so that viewers could appreciate the full beauty of their presentation,” she explains.
A big thank you to our partners Hublot, Sainte Joie, La French, De Buyer, ePack Pro, Italian Trade Agency – SIGEP, Robur, Nespresso, Sysco, Jinchan, Pacoclean, Nivers, Kaviari, Unima, Lenôtre, and Champagne Jacquart for their support.
