Damien Pignolet

Damien Pignolet (born c. 1948) is an Australian chef based in Sydney. Pignolet was born in Melbourne, Victoria. He is a fourth-generation Australian of French descent.[1] He studied at the William Angliss College of Catering from 1966.[2]

Early years and Adversity

Pignolet has overcome adversity in his life. Going into hospital at the age of 5, he came out when he was eight, spending almost four years lying flat in a full-body cast because of a rare hip disease. Pignolet says the experience made him inward-looking and shy and couldn't play sport for years. "I was always the odd person out," he remembers. "I lived in a complete fantasy world." [3] Pignolet found comfort in cooking and started out utilising Women's Weekly cookbooks but soon went to the local library and discovered the great chef, Escoffier.

In 1966 Pignolet began a four year course in catering and hotel management at William Angliss College. His career began in catering and led to teaching and the administration of a Melbourne cooking school.[4] Pignolet worked in hospital and institutional cooking in Melbourne and in 1979 he moved to Sydney and made his name working in the restaurant Pavilion in the Park in the Domain. It was where, he met Josephine Carroll. Pignolet says of her "We just fell in love like that. Instantly. But she was an apprentice, I was the executive chef. We were just good friends. The next year, we changed that."[3] Together they worked at Butlers then from 1981 he owned Claude's in Oxford Street in Woollahra and made it a 36-seat classically French restaurant; the restaurant received much acclaim.[5]

On 21 December 1987, Pignolet was driving back from Canberra, with his wife Josephine, whom he had been married to for six and a half years, together with Chefs Anne Taylor and Ian McCullough. All three were asleep and, for a split second Pignolet fell asleep and struck head on with an oncoming car, killing its driver and Josephine and seriously injuring Taylor and McCullough. Pignolet suffered major jaw injuries which required a liquid diet for 12 weeks and damage to his hip needed surgery that kept him confined to home for three months.[6]

Josephine Pignolet Young Chef of the Year Award

Josephine is remembered through the Josephine Pignolet Young Chef of the Year Award, which sends the most promising young chefs overseas. Winning the Josephine Pignolet Young Chef of the Year Award has been the stepping stone to a brilliant career for many chefs. Previous winners include Mark Best, the head chef of Marque Restaurant, Damian Heads of Milsons and now Pony,[7] Mitch Orr of Sepia restaurant, Daniel Puskas and James Parry of Oscillate Wildly,[8][9]

In 1992 Damien went into partnership with Ron White and purchased the Woollahra Hotel creating Bistro Moncur in Woollahara.[4]

He has been recognised as a leader in his field within New South Wales.[10]

He is the author of French, with photography by Earl Carter, published in 2005 by Lantern (Penguin Aus.) (ISBN 192098917X).[1][11]

Bistro Moncur

Bistro Moncur interior featuring mural by Michael Fitzjames
Woollahra Hotel and far right, entrance to Bistro Moncur

Bistro Moncur is a restaurant which is part of the Woollahra Hotel in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It opened in 1993. The main focus is modern Australian and French cuisine. Damien Pignolet is the executive chef.[12]

Awards

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "French". Look inside (book preview). Penguin Group (Australia). Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  2. ↑ "Damien Pignolet - 2000". Hall of Fame. Restaurant and Catering NSW/ACT (Industry association). 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Damien's obsession". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 November 2005.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.lifestylefood.com.au/chefs/damienpignolet/
  5. ↑ O'Donnell, Mietta (1996). "Damien Pignolet: Chef-partner, Bistro Moncur, Sydney". Great Australian Chefs. Mietta's. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  6. ↑ "Damien's obsession". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 November 2005.
  7. ↑ http://readysteadycook.ten.com.au/chefs.htm
  8. ↑ "Berowra Waters is top nosh again". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 September 2008.
  9. ↑ http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2010/03/15/1268501430866.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ↑ He was inducted into the NSW Restaurant and Catering industry's Hall of Fame in 2000 thus meeting the criteria: 1. At least 20 years in a professional capacity within the industry 2. A unique and definitive contributor to the industry 3. Recognised as a leader within their field 4. Participation as an active and upstanding citizen of the community "John K Walker Hall of Fame". Restaurant and Catering NSW/ACT (Industry association). Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  11. ↑ Keenan, Catherine (2005-11-01). "Damien's obsession". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  12. ↑ The Woollahra Hotel :: Official Website , Bistro Moncur, 4 March 2008.

External links

Coordinates: 33°53′18″S 151°14′13″E / 33.888364°S 151.236889°E