Marie GRICOURT

Chef : Gric A “Grande de Demain 2026” awardee, Marie Gricourt—who trained at the Élysée and under Christophe Hay—serves up hearty bistronomic cuisine at Gric (2 toques) in Orléans that brings together people of all ages.

Presentation

“ I always knew I would be a chef.” A native of Estouy, near Pithiviers, and the daughter of a chef who worked for 35 years at the Ministry of Finance, Marie Gricourt grew up with cooking as her everyday language. After earning a general high school diploma, she trained at the CFA Médéric and cut her teeth working under Sébastien Gravé at Les Fables de la Fontaine and at Pottoka in Paris.

From Paris’s top restaurants to the Élysée

In 2013, after being named Best Apprentice in France, she joined Frédéric Anton at Le Pré Catelan. “ The weeks were long, but I loved that time, working as part of a small, close-knit team.” ” Next came L’Arôme, Le Diane at Fouquet’s, and Le Bristol, working underÉric Frechon. In 2017, she became the first woman to join the kitchens of the Élysée Palace, as part of Guillaume Gomez’s team. “A joyful, family-like atmosphere, despite the high demands.” In 2020, Christophe Hay entrusted her with La Table d’à Côté in Ardon. “ Our perspectives were becoming too divergent. So I decided to open my own restaurant.”

Gric, a family-run restaurant in the heart of Orléans

Opened in September 2023 on Rue des Halles, Gric (2 toques) champions a home-style, down-to-earth, and authentic cuisine. “ I wanted to recreate the spirit of large family dinners, with dishes that everyone can relate to.” The world-champion egg with mayonnaise, celery rémoulade, bouchot mussels, puff pastries, and pies make up a gourmet yet accessible menu. The kitchen staff, which has grown from four to eight people, fosters a strong sense of teamwork: “ There’s no stifling hierarchy; everyone knows their role.” ” After winning the Cuisine des Prairies et des Pâturages trophy in 2024, Marie Gricourt received the Grand de Demain trophy on February 9, 2026, at the Gault&Millau Tour for the Centre-Val de Loire and Pays de la Loire regions.