Christophe MARGUIN

Chef : 2 restaurants Christophe Marguin, the influential president of the Toques blanches lyonnaises and official candidate in Lyon's upcoming municipal elections, is the proud chef of Le Président restaurant.

Presentation

"I'm the fourth generation of cooks. We've been in the same house for 112 years. I was born into this profession, it's all I know, it's my life", says Christophe Marguin. And yet, he got off to a rocky start, with an apprenticeship at the Hôtel de Paris in Moulins (Allier), alongside his CFA. "I was 15 years old and I was leaving home at 2:30 a.m. Back then, chefs were tougher than they are today.

After completing his studies, he moved to Paris and joined Le Taillevent. "The first few months weren't easy, but I hung in there and made some wonderful memories." In 1986, he joined the Lutetia brigade under Jacky Fréon, just as Fréon was chosen to represent France at the very first Bocuse d'Or, which he won . "It wasincredible," recalls Christophe Marguin.

Afterwards, the young chef packed his bags and moved to Strasbourg, where he worked at Le Crocodile. It was the hardest experience of my career," he says, "but once I got over the hurdle, I made a lot of friends. Then, in 1990, he headed for Nice to work with Jacques Maximin . "A year later, the Lyonnais decided to move to London, to the Connaught Hotel, to improve his English. Problem: in the kitchen, he was surrounded by French people. His chef sent him to Scotland, to Inverlochy Castle.

Then it was time to return to the kitchens of the family restaurant, Maison Marguin, where Jacky gradually handed over the reins to his son. At the same time, Christophe Marguin won the Prosper Montagné competition and the Taittinger in 1996, and was elected president of the Toques blanches lyonnaises from 2006 to 2012, and again since 2015. In 2017, he decided to leave Les Échets for Lyon, where he took over Le Président with his wife, Nicole. "Today,I'm a happy man. I have the business I wanted, the volume I wanted, I close on weekends, I have a life I've never had before." Next step: the 2026 municipal elections!

I.B.

Its restaurants

Open

14/20
Chef's Restaurant

Le Président

Address 69006 LYON

Chef Christophe Marguin

Cooking Signature cuisine | Traditional

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News & Events

Christophe Marguin auctions off his collection of royal and presidential menus

Known as a great collector, Christophe Marguin (2 toques) will soon be parting with over 4,000 imperial, royal and presidential menus. Two exceptional dinners are being organized for the occasion.

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Chef Christophe MARGUIN

Restaurant Christophe Marguin