iñaki aizpitarte
interview by EMILIEN CRESPO
photography by JONAS UNGER
a decade ago, le chateaubriand
brilliantly pioneered the paris
bistronomy movement, with creative
young chefs, great food, original
decor, and fair prices
EMILIEN CRESPO — Where does your love of cooking come from?
IÑAKI AIZPITARTE — I started cooking at a young age because I am the last of five children. My father died when I was 13, and my mother started over. She would often go away on the weekends. From Friday to Monday, I cooked for myself and invited friends over so I wouldn’t be alone. My brothers and sisters were students, and we didn’t live together anymore. I liked to make do with whatever was around. I was trying to find myself, was a bit rebellious, failing in school. I really didn’t want to go to a cooking school where I’d have to wear a uniform…