Laurent Manrique

Laurent Manrique (born March 30, 1966) is an internationally celebrated restaurateur and Michelin-starred chef. Currently overseeing projects in New York and San Francisco, Laurent has extensive professional experience in both locales. He was the Corporate Executive Chef of Aqua, an upscale seafood restaurant in San Francisco, where he earned 2 Michelin stars in 2006, the first time Michelin came to the San Francisco Bay Area, and again in 2007 and 2008. Upon his departure in 2009, the restaurant lost its Michelin status. For several years, he has overseen popular, bustling Cafe de la Presse, located on the corner of Bush Street and Grant Avenue, as well as two wine bars: Blanc et Rouge and Rouge and Blanc. In New York, he recently opened Millesime, a seafood brasserie in the Carlton Hotel that has attracted impressive critical attention and dedicated patronage. He is lauded for his culinary business savvy and his modern interpretation of his native Gascon cuisine.