Charles Bruneval, 2027 Young Talent Award, Hauts-de-France

On Monday, October 5, 2026, culinary professionals gathered at the Chamber of Trades and Crafts on Place des Artisans in Lille for the awards ceremony of the Gault&Millau Tour Hauts-de-France. Aurélie Coppens, from Maison Rougié, presented the 2027 Young Talent Award to Charles Bruneval, chef at the Renée restaurant (2 toques) in Dunkirk. This recognition honors the 35-year-old chef, who opened his restaurant in October 2024.

Learning from the Best

At age 17, Charles Bruneval embarked on his culinary journey: he earned a BEP in Dunkirk, a vocational baccalaureate in Paris, and then returned to his hometown to complete his BTS. He then moved to Paris, where he honed his skills at Maison Rostang (3 toques), followed by a stint with Thierry Marx, whose kitchen taught him organization, precision, and technique. In 2015, the young man joined Guy Savoy, where he discovered haute cuisine of remarkable mastery, then spent a year at the Ritz.“Deep down, I always knew I’d be a chef. I’ve loved it since I was very young.”

Renée, a tribute to his grandmother

“Once I turned thirty, I wanted to return home to Dunkirk to open my own restaurant near Malo-les-Bains, where I grew up. Local ingredients, authentic and bold flavors, and generous portions—I also seek to pay tribute to my grandmother, who passed down to me a love of entertaining and cooking.”

Just a stone’s throw from the seawall, the chef chose to name his restaurant Renée, in honor of his grandmother. A name that tells a family story and is also reflected on the plate, through cuisine that is sincere and rooted in regional ingredients.