Pierre Gagnaire is a well known French chef, and is the Head Chef and owner of the eponymous Pierre Gagnaire restaurant at 6 rue Balzac in Paris. Gagnaire is an iconoclastic chef who was at the forefront of the fusion movement. Beginning his career in St. Etienne, where he won 3 Michelin Stars, Gagnaire tore at the conventions of classic French cooking by introducing jarring juxtapositions of flavors, tastes, textures and ingredients. His influence on cooking has been worldwide. The restaurant is considered one of the finest in France, specializing in 'Modern French' cuisine, and has garnered the coveted 3 Michelin stars. Gagnaire is also Head Chef of Sketch in London. In 2005, both restaurants were ranked in the top 20 in the world by industry magazine Restaurant, with Pierre Gagnaire was ranking third in 2006 and 2007. Gagnaire's new concept restaurant, Pierre at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Hong Kong opened in October 2006. His goal for his cooking is to have a lively cuisine which takes risks while respecting the past .
