Hall maestro
Unfortunately, you’re going to have to get used to it! After forty-seven years spent pacing the halls of theHôtel de Ville de Crissier alongside four legendary chefs, the great Louis Villeneuve is stepping down. He was the king of cutting, dressing, hospitality and service codes. Over the years, he became the teacher of a whole generation of future talents in the culinary world.
How can we retrace decades of professional life in one article? There’s so much more to say about this man of character and determination, who worked his way to the top of the pyramid in his profession. His movements may not be as fast as they once were, but the precision of his gestures remains intact. With as much modesty as candor, as much benevolence as wonder, let us retrace the immense career of a maître de salle whose dearest wish is to continue passing on his knowledge to the younger generation.
Louis Villeneuve
Memories, memories
As the chapter of his life in Crissier draws to a close, Louis Villeneuve is more active than ever. “It’s out of the question for me to do nothing,” he insists in an energetic voice. Even if he is nostalgic for a certain era, he is not haunted by the past. Heads of state, actors, artists, musicians, greats of the world and passing strangers… he has seen them all pass through this temple of world gastronomy. “The restaurant at Crissier’s Hôtel de Ville was a benchmark, is a benchmark and will always be a benchmark.
The mere presentation of a menu has given rise to a host of exceptional encounters, friendships forged over lunch and dinner, and brief conversations between two majestic cuts of Frédy Girardet-style Canard Nantais au vin rouge. Despite all these memories, he looks to the future with the same enthusiasm and energy. Always with panache, and even if time flies, he feels like a young man ready to take on new challenges.
Theatrical atmosphere
Louis Villeneuve enters the stage like a boxer in the ring. “Every time I serve, I feel the same pressure, even if I don’t show it. When I was younger, I didn’t feel up to the challenge. With time, you learn to handle the intensity of a service, especially that of a three-star restaurant”. And that’s saying a lot when you’re lucky enough to see him in action. This aspect of the competition drives him on a daily basis, and has accompanied him throughout his career. It’s not like Louis Villeneuve to take someone else’s place, but he certainly wouldn’t let anyone take his. “Without crushing the other person, you simply have to demonstrate on a daily basis that you’re the best. The truth is, this happens naturally. It’s essential to set an example.
Louis Villeneuve is proud of his profession. Throughout his career, he has always made sure to add a touch of soul to his professional environment. Coming from a farming background, the notion of humility and the hard work required for his profession is a rule of life. Even if haute gastronomy is no longer the preserve of an elite, the Maître d’hôtel deplores some inappropriate attire in an environment of excellence and rigor. “Whether you’re sitting as a customer or standing to serve, it’s all a question of respect and education”.
Louis Villeneuve
Transmission
Every day he works alongside a younger generation eager to learn the teachings of the “master”. For they know… their days are numbered before the deadline. Even if a certain firmness is required to get the right messages across and make himself understood, the great Louis passes on his knowledge with a pedagogical approach, so that the excellence of the profession endures. “Young people need a framework! I always explain to my teams that, in a customer-facing business, it’s vital to have a broad, multi-faceted, all-encompassing knowledge base, so as to be able to adapt immediately to any situation and any type of customer. As Louis Villeneuve is well aware, eclecticism is an asset in a profession that is essentially based on relationships.
There’s bound to be one last performance. And despite his extraordinary career, Louis Villeneuve’s eyes mist up at the mere thought of the curtain coming down. Even if the future of the profession remains uncertain, he nevertheless keeps faith in this 2.0 generation and remains confident in his succession. The show may be over, but the play goes on…
