A culinary trio on Tenerife can be found more frequently on the island, but a French trio of this caliber is rather exceptional.
We all love going out to eat. We are all bon vivants, perhaps even true food enthusiasts who want to taste new flavors as often as possible, admire beautifully served plates, and savor delicious aromas. There are thousands of eateries on Tenerife, ranging from local and traditional to gastronomic with Michelin stars. There’s something for everyone, no matter the budget.
French trio
To illustrate this, we point towards a trio that has made its culinary mark both in France and Tenerife. Whether by coincidence or not, we spotted their reunion in Los Cristianos and have categorized them as… a tasty trio.
A trio worth savoring, with a combined age of over two hundred years. In the photo are three culinary magicians, and by chance, they are all French. From left to right are René Fontaine (Maître Chocolatier), Jacques Sabatier (Chef at Restaurant El Sol), and Pierre Fiacre (former chef at Bahía del Duque, among others). They gathered in Los Cristianos at Sabatier’s restaurant, which is also known as ‘Chez Jacques.’
Maître Chocolatier
René Fontaine was born on March 14, 1946, in Deux-Chaises, in the Allier region. He is a retired pastry chef and chocolatier who lives in Barcelonnette, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. In 1976, he became the youngest Meilleur Ouvrier de France and produced eighteen tons of chocolate annually. Barcelonnette is also home to a chocolate museum where many of his creations are exhibited.
In 1967, he began his career as a pastry chef at the Grande Pâtisserie Charpin in Le Puy-en-Velay, France. From 1969 to 1988, he owned his own pastry and chocolate shop in Nice, France. After that, he managed various establishments in Langeac, Nice, Gap, and Barcelonnette.
René Fontaine comes to Tenerife every year for a few months to cycle. “That’s how I stay young,” he says.
Chez Jacques
We don’t know of any restaurant on Tenerife that has been run by the same owner and chef for nearly 50 years, except for the French restaurant El Sol in Los Cristianos, founded in 1974 by Chef Jacques Sabatier.
The restaurant is often called Chez Jacques and exudes a French atmosphere. The dishes, wines, and service are exactly what you would expect from a restaurant in the French countryside. Attention to detail goes beyond what’s on your plate, and the house specialty is chicken. If you want to dine in an authentic French restaurant on Tenerife, El Sol is the one to choose. For more Dutch-language reviews, you can find them on Tripadvisor. Vive la France!
Superchef Fiacre
Pierre Fiacre (b. 1932) is a well-known name in the world of French cuisine. Now, at the venerable age of 90, he was once ‘truly gifted’ in his active years. In addition to working in various kitchens, he was for a time Vice President of the Cuisiniers de France. In Paris, he ran a renowned restaurant for 27 years, and in 1982, he came to Tenerife, where he worked for 18 years as a chef in the five-star restaurant at Bahía del Duque.
In addition to his busy role at the star restaurant, he also taught aspiring chefs. Pierre Fiacre now enjoys a peaceful life under the sunny skies of Tenerife.
Read more about ‘Food’ [HERE].
René Fontaine © Photography
A culinary trio on Tenerife ©
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