Paris restaurant invites an amateur cook to become head chef each night

Chefs, who apply via the website, have creative control over ingredients, menu design and the cooking process.

France is a country renowned for its culinary tradition, yet these traditions show no sign of standing in the way of innovation. We recently saw Restolib turn Paris restaurant kitchens into spaces for cooking classes after hours, and now Un Jour, Un Chef is going one step further and allowing amateurs to realise their dreams of becoming head chef for one night. Situated near Bastille Square in the French capital, the 50-cover restaurant has its own team of experts, including concept creator and chef Ludovic Dalavaud, who will offer advice to each day’s cook. The new chefs have creative control over ingredients, menu design and the cooking process, with help from the professionals, and by the evening they will be serving up their creations to friends and family, as well as a judging public. The chef’s role is free for participants, who apply via the website and can get involved as much or as little as they like depending on experience and confidence. Diners will get a starter, main course and desert for EUR30, as well as the possibility of getting the first taste of undiscovered talent – the restaurant aims to be a place to nurture the future of global cuisine. A unique way for food-lovers to fulfil their dreams of putting on the head chef’s hat, Un Jour, Un Chef is a fun and challenging way to engage customers with the industry. Could this be replicated around the globe? Spotted by: Elisabeth Dien