Amid career changes and twists of fate, Anne-Sophie Pic has become one of the most acclaimed chefs in the world, carrying on the family business, "Maison Pic," and opening numerous restaurants around the globe with the PIC Group, co-owned with her husband.
Madame Pic started on her own and never lost her passion for discovery, achieving unprecedented success in her culinary endeavors and beyond.
Anne-Sophie Pic was born in the heart of France in 1969, in Valence in Drôme. She is the daughter of renowned chef Jacques Pic and the heir to the renowned "Auberge du Pin," which gained fame as "Maison Pic" and was founded in 1889. The culinary institution has held Three MICHELIN stars since 1934, thanks to the culinary skill of her grandfather André Pic first, and then her father, who restored the restaurant to its highest MICHELIN recognition after a turbulent period post-World War II.
While her brother Alain pursued studies in culinary arts, Anne-Sophie briefly gravitated towards the world of pastry, dreaming of a future as a fashion designer despite her undeniable attraction to the culinary world. Ultimately, she decided to study economics at the ISG School in Paris with the goal of working in the luxury sector. She seemed destined for a managerial career, with various experiences abroad in Japan and the United States, working for companies like Cartier and Moet & Chandon. However, in 1992, the call of her roots brought her back to Valence to train as a cook alongside her father.
Unfortunately, shortly after her return, her father Jacques passed away suddenly at the age of 59. The two siblings decided to take charge of the restaurant, but despite their efforts, under Alain's guidance, the MICHELIN Star was revoked in 1995.
Alain then decided to retire and start his own venture in Grenoble, leaving the challenging task of managing the restaurant to his sister. In 1997, with courage and determination, Anne-Sophie took full control of the kitchen, which was traditionally male-dominated at the time. Ten years later, in February 2007, her challenge was finally won: "Maison Pic" regained its third MICHELIN star, the one Anne-Sophie considered her "father's star." From that moment on, the chef's successes continued to grow. In 2011, Anne-Sophie was named the Best Chef in the World by the World's 50 Best Restaurants.
Like her accomplished colleagues, Anne-Sophie leveraged her managerial training and began expanding her culinary empire. Together with her husband David Sinapian, she founded the PIC Group and opened a series of successful establishments: the SCOOK cooking school in Valence in 2008, the "Anne-Sophie PIC" restaurant at the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne in 2009 (2 MICHELIN Stars), the "ÉPICerie Fine" in Valence, opened the following year, the "Dame de Pic" in Paris (1 MICHELIN Star), the "Daily Pic" in Paris, offering gourmet verrines. Additionally, the restaurant "André" opened in 2016, "La Dame de Pic - le 1920" in Megève (1 MICHELIN Star), "Dame de Pic" (2 MICHELIN Stars) in London, and in 2019, the same restaurant concept arrived in Singapore, where it was awarded One MICHELIN Star.
Anne-Sophie's cuisine stands out for its feminine and aromatic approach, dedicated to the harmony of complex flavors and the presentation of sophisticated elegance. "It's my means of expressing emotions," she confessed. The chef also pays particular attention to the ingredients she uses, always favoring seasonal ones. For example, at "Maison Pic," she collaborates with Cyril Vignon, a fourth-generation horticulturist.
In 2023, Anne-Sophie is one of the wealthiest chefs in the world, thanks not only to her extraordinary culinary talent but also to wise investments and collaborations, such as her partnership with cosmetics brand CoverGirl, and the launch of her line of body care products, Pure Wonderpic. The chef has also initiated a solidarity fund called "Give a Taste to Childhood" with the aim of carrying out actions of general interest for children.
