Thierry Pruvot, a Pré Catelan legend takes his leave

Mathilde Bourge | 5/5/25, 2:58 PM

After more than four decades of service at the prestigious Pré Catelan, Thierry Pruvot, emblematic room manager, bowed out in January 2025. An emotional departure welcomed by the profession.

Rarely has a career been so linear and dedicated. Thierry Pruvot joined Le Pré Catelan (5 toques) in 1982 at the age of 18, and never left the walls of the famous establishment nestled in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne. From commis to directeur de salle, he epitomizes loyalty and deserved advancement. In January 2025, after 43 years of an exemplary career, he orchestrated his last service, closing a chapter as long as it had been brilliant.

In November 2023, a few months before his departure, the Gault&Millau guide awarded him the title of "Restaurant Manager of the Year" 2024. A prestigious award that crowns one man's commitment to a unique house.

A passion born in childhood

A taste for service didn't fall into his lap by chance. Born into a family steeped in the restaurant business - his parents were café owners and his cousin ran a roadside restaurant - Thierry Pruvot discovered the dining room and customer contact at a very early age.

at the age of 15, he naturally opted for a CAP (vocational training certificate), completing two key apprenticeships in the Yvelines region. at the Auberge de la Truite in Vert, an unexpected encounter changed the course of his life. A regular customer, close to the Lenôtre family, offered to introduce him to the Pré Catelan. This was to be the start of an incredible adventure.

as soon as he arrived at Le Pré Catelan, Thierry Pruvot showed a remarkable eagerness to learn. Surrounded by friendly colleagues, he immersed himself in their know-how. His mentor, Jean-François Depont, played a decisive role in his development. A Maître d'hôtel in 1985, he reached the top in 2019, succeeding Jean-Jacques Chauveau as Restaurant Manager.

Working alongside chef Frédéric Anton, he has been instrumental in raising the profile of French service excellence. His personal touch? A well-judged sense of humor and a humanity appreciated by customers and staff alike.

Female successors assured

Mégane Pantanella, a dynamic thirty-something and former head waiter at Jean Imbert's restaurant at the Plaza Athénée, has been chosen as his successor. Arriving in September 2024, she embodies a new generation of service professionals, while continuing the House's heritage of exacting standards and elegance.

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