Born in Toulouse, France, in 1967, Pascal Aussignac was raised in a part of the world where the rich gastronomy was a crucial ingredient of the culture.
In 1982 he studied at the Lycée hôtelier of Bordeaux-Talence, one of France’s top training colleges for the hotel and tourism industry, and then started his career in 1985 as a commis chef for Gérard Vié at Les Trois Marches, Versailles. He trained and worked with Alain Dutournier and Guy Savoy.
Valrhona chocolate variation, black
truffle, coffee and cardamom
After being unable to secure financial backing to open a restaurant in Paris, the young, budding chef came to London in 1996 and has never considered returning to his native country.
Club Gascon and Gascon’s history
Club Gascon was opened by Pascal and business partner Vincent Labeyrie in September 1998. Over the years, Pascal Aussignac and Vincent Labeyrie have created a strong brand with the name Gascon deriving from the historical Gascony region of France.
Other affiliated restaurants across London include Cellar Gascon wine bar, and Comptoir Gascon, a bistro and the Official Embassy of Cassoulet UK, both in Smithfield, Le Cercle in Chelsea, Cigalon and Baranis in Chancery Lane and two Chip + Fish establishments in Westfield City and Stratford. Their business group has created, in a sense, a small French enclave in the heart of the UK’s capital city, bringing over local cuisine from the Gascony area, often described as ‘hearty’, as well as more traditional French food.
Pascal’s name has become synonymous with success in the capital; it only requires a quick glance at the glittering list of awards to understand the level of his achievement since moving here.
Pascal still cooks regularly in his restaurants, every day at Club Gascon, and he especially enjoys flower arranging, personally decorating the dining areas using the eye for presentation, beauty and detail that has served him so well in the kitchen.
Hare à la Royale
Food Style
Club Gascon is a classical French cuisine, drawing on Pascal’s upbringing in south-western France, with as much emphasis placed on the wine as the food itself. The seasons and innovation do affect his style, but French tradition prevails. Pascal won ‘Restaurant Chef of the Year 2013' at the Craft Guild of Chef Awards and many of his other restaurants, bars and wine bars have won numerous awards as well.
Other restaurants
Pascal is co-owner of the Gascon Connection group, which includes flagship restaurant Club Gascon and southwestern French cocktail bar Le Bar (formerly Cellar Gascon) – both in Smithfield; Comptoir Gascon, a romantic, gourmet bistro in Charterhouse Street; Cigalon and Baranis – a Provençal restaurant and bar respectively, on Chancery Lane; and Chip + Fish in Westfield London, Stratford City and Trinity, Leeds. Le Cercle, a popular Chelsea dining spot, has since closed.
Awards
Pascal Aussignac has also won many awards with Club Gascon; in 2007 it won the Catey Awards, Independent Restaurateur of the Year, Gastronomades France – Best French touch in 2008, Best in Taste Award – Taste of London in 2012 and many more. Club Gascon was also awarded Restaurant of the Year in the Good Food Guide in 2000 and Restaurant of the Year in the AA Guide in 2000.
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