Corentin Poirier
Pastry chef
- Gastronomie
- San Francisco
” Through my residency at Villa Albertine, I will embark on quest to find traditional flavors in the heart of the Western United States. My hope is that these flavors will reflect all the richness of this land and the efforts of those who work in it. The pastries that will create will retain all of their French identity, but follow an ecologically responsible approach combined with American influences. “
I have always considered pastry-making to be an art, which has led my career to take the form of a quest for taste and beauty. Like artists, pastry chefs can go beyond the impact on the palate and the eye to transmit a message through their creations. This brings with it a duty to work in a way that reflects the spirit of the times.
For some years now, it has become essential for me to follow an environmentally-conscious approach in preparing my desserts. By taking steps such as working with regional products, meeting farmers, and placing emphasis on the land, I can look outward, leave the kitchen, and take an interest in anything that enables me to create. Gradually, I have come to gain a better grasp of our human impact on the Earth; the importance of protecting the environment; and our crucial fight to preserve the natural diversity of plants, seeds, fruits, and vegetables, and the richness of every terroir or soil.
In 2022, I created the taste of Amatxi, which honors the Espelette chili pepper and traditional Amatxi corn, both products from the French Basque Country. This creation is a tribute to the work of Jon Harlouchet, who decided to reintroduce the cultivation of this corn after unearthing long-forgotten seed varieties. To me, every kernel holds in it the taste of a thousand pollinated flowers.
By meeting individuals involved in local agriculture as part of my residency at Villa Albertine, I intend to reflect more deeply on these issues in an aim to understand the terroirs of the Western United States. Through my research, I hope to discover new foods and taste combinations that will help me create original desserts rooted in ecology and respect for nature.
While attending Ferrandi Paris, the best-reputed culinary school in the French capital, from 2012 onwards Corentin Poirier completed his apprenticeship under Laurent Duchène, winner of a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Artisan in France) award. Thrust into this world of highly exacting standards, he sought to set himself apart and earn his stripes by broadening his network and training his palate. Corentin then graduated with the highest honors in his vocational diploma as a baker and pastry chef.
He continued his journey of learning at the prestigious École de Boulangerie et de Pâtisserie (Paris Bakery and Pastry School), during which time he took first place in the Pastry Chef category of the Meilleur Apprenti de France (Best Apprentice in France) competition, in 2016. He also received his master’s-level advanced vocational training certificate in pastry-making. Corentin went on to complete several work-study programs with renowned pastry chefs, including Cédric Grolet and Guillaume Gil, and was then invited to New York for a job as a creation, research, and development officer. After two years in the American metropolis, the lockdown drove him to return to Europe, whereupon he seized an opportunity to work as a chef at a castle in the Basque Country. There, he discovered the notion of the terroir and how to manage a kitchen on a daily basis.
My project at Villa Albertine is to explore the essence of terroirs in the Western United States. San Francisco is reputed for its innovative, socially committed cuisine owing to the diversity of locally grown ingredients. It is the epicenter of the farm-to-table movement, spearheading a message of healthy, sustainable, environmentally-friendly food. I want to meet farmers and chefs there who are known for their social commitments and eco-friendly techniques, finding out what ingredients they prefer to use, and which age-old or avant-garde cooking and preservation methods they employ. My goal is to spark a dialog on the future of farming practices and its impact on the culinary scene.
I hope to immerse myself in different Californian terroirs in an effort to create desserts that highlight the specific identity of each one. To this end, I will meet with producers who respect the soil to discuss their growing methods and discover their products, tasting each one and attempting to pinpoint its essence. I intend to turn these products into original recipes that celebrate their work and their terroirs.
I would also like to collaborate with other chefs in a spirit of exchange. As we co-create dishes, I hope to draw from their expertise and ingenuity.
Lastly, I intend to document my residency through writing and photography to build a sense of excitement around the commitments of each person I meet.
The West Coast and San Francisco, in particular, are the ideal places for me to deepen my research, and to meet the people who share my convictions and evolve alongside them. The rich culinary scene includes world-famous restaurants, as well as locally based eateries operating across shorter supply chains and as part of the farm-to-table movement. The region is known for favoring sustainable farming and using local, seasonal produce, which resonates with my own creations and commitments. I will have the chance to visit farms, meet the many individuals involved there—farmers, wine growers, nursery owners, etc.—and explore the major farming belts in Santa Clara Valley, Napa Valley, and Sonoma County.
California is also a land of technological innovation, home to leading universities and research centers. Their studies on relationships between diet and health, environmental impacts of agriculture and food production, and methods to promote healthy consumer habits will help me better understand current ecological and health challenges, and guide my research and creations.
In partnership with
Louis Roederer Foundation
The Louis Roederer Foundation, presided by Frédéric Rouzaud, supports contemporary artistic creation and the transmission of knowledge. Founded in 2011, the Foundation accompanies ambitious cultural initiatives led by renowned institutions both in France and abroad.
It provides steadfast support to the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Jeu de Paume in Paris, the French Academy in Rome – Villa Medici, and the Villa Albertine in the United States. Through the Discovery Award at the Rencontres d’Arles Photography Festival, the Revelation Prizes at the Semaine de la Critique in Cannes and the Festival du cinéma américain de Deauville (Deauville American Film Festival), as well as its Carte Blanche collaboration with Le Fresnoy, the Louis Roederer Foundation actively fosters the emergence of talented artists. With the Photographic Research Grant from the Bibliothèque nationale de France, its support for international researchers at the Institute for Ideas & Imagination in Paris, and its global “Thinking Sustainability” program, the Foundation contributes to a better understanding of the world and enhanced mutual respect.
The Foundation also engages in the viticultural domains of the Roederer Collection by initiating cultural actions specific to each site. To perfect its commitment to the arts, the Louis Roederer Foundation is building its own collection of works by emerging and established artists, whether represented or not, and offers carte blanche collaborations in various artistic fields.