CHRISTIAN MONCHÂTRE
Jonathan Club Executive Chef
Co-founder, Angels On Earth Foundation
French-born and classically trained, Executive Chef Christian Monchâtre is a veteran of the culinary arts, dedicating his life to the industry. Rooted in traditional French and Italian techniques, Christian’s cuisine reflects a mosaic of influences culminating from extensive training in France, Italy, North and South America.
Since 1998 as the Jonathan Club Executive Chef, one of the nation’s leading and most prestigious private clubs, Christian is constantly working on the concept of fine dining on a grand scale. His careful blend of time-honored techniques mixed with fresh vibrant products has won many acclaim.
Christian Monchâtre began his culinary career at a young age with his father at the family restaurant in the Loire Valley, and spent several years apprenticing with his brother Bruno, a butcher-charcutier in Le Mans. When called to serve under the Arms, Christian was transferred to Baden-Baden, Germany, where he served meals to commanding officers and government officials. Due to his passion for other societies, people and history, Christian decided to expand his culinary knowledge. He moved to Italy and apprenticed at world renowned properties such as the Antica Tratoria dello Sperone, which overlooks the famous horse track of Milan, and the Villa D’Este on Lake Como, as well as the world famous Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence. He learned about Italian traditions, delicatessen and techniques. Traversing the Atlantic, he found himself as Chef de Cuisine and later Executive Chef of the Five Star award-winning restaurant La Bruschetta in Los Angeles, California. In his three years at La Bruschetta, he received several restaurant and individual Culinary Awards. He later opened his own restaurant The Gypsy Grill in Encino, California which received many exhilarated reviews.
Monchâtre has cooked for many notable people, including Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford, Reverend Bill Graham and First Secretary George Shultz, and others. He was invited to prepare the cuisine for Pierre Cardin’s 50-year Retrospective of Fashion, and the honor of Chef of the Year 2003 was bestowed upon him by the Club Culinaire. He has also participated in many fundraisers including March of Dimes, Breast Cancer Foundation, Children’s Hospital of California Trauma Center, most recently the Oscar Night Party for Children’s Uniting Nation, and currently helping to build a kitchen in Pontichelli, India, for the village that regrouped all the orphaned children after the tsunami disaster.
He was inducted to the Acadamie Culinaire de France and decorated Chevalier of Merit by the French Government in 2005.
Christian, now 40, is a member of the Club’s Chefs Institute, Professional Chefs Association and the President of Club Culinaire of French Cuisine for the California Chapter.
