Eau and Excellence

Les Amis chef Sebastien Lepinoy, who recently attended the first-ever Evian Summit for Fine Dining in France, reflects on his lifelong connection with the brand, from his childhood in the French countryside to the tables of a three-Michelin-starred restaurant

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This July, premium natural mineral water brand Evian hosted its inaugural Summit for Fine Dining in France, which brought together an inspiring group of chefs from around the world, offering a rare opportunity for them to connect across cultures, share perspectives and spark new ideas. Amongst the cohort was Sebastien Lepinoy, the acclaimed chef behind the three-Michelin-starred Les Amis, for whom Evian has been a longstanding presence both personally and professionally.

“There are three pillars to any fine-dining experience,” says Lepinoy. “The kitchen, for the food; the service, to make you comfortable and give you exceptional memories; and the wine programme, which is adapted to your budget and tastes.” And for any chef that is helming a French restaurant, there is a nonnegotiable fourth: a bottle of Evian on every table.

When Lepinoy joined Les Amis in 2013, one of his first priorities was to ensure that Evian was part of the dining experience. “The value lies in tradition, the old gastronomy,” he explains. “Back in 1993, when I worked in a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in France, Evian was always served. For French people like me, who grew up in the countryside, Evian is considered the best water.”

Visiting Évian-les-Bains, the French town where Evian water is sourced, for the Evian Summit for Fine Dining this July reinforced the brand’s status as one of the world’s top premium waters for Lepinoy. His understanding of Evian deepened, giving him a clear perspective of why this particular brand of natural mineral water is so highly regarded.