Pre Catelan Chef Federic Anton, Food Critic & Master Chef Judge Sebastian Demorand, Thoumieux Chef Jean-Francois Piege, La Regalade Founder/Le Comptoir/MasterChef Judge Yves Camdeborde, Me, La Regalade Chef Owner Bruno Doucet

Yves Camdeborde Protege, One of the "Original Brigade" of La Regalade & L'Ami Jean Chef Stephane Jego

Friends, Family & Colleagues Past and Present came out to celebrate

Trying to get the happy "family" to pose for a photograph? Impossible!

A Packed House: La Regalade Founder Yves Camdeborde taking food to everyone on the terrace who couldn't get inside

Chef Frederic Anton, Yves Camdeborde, Wendy Lyn, Baker Jean Luc Poujauran

Fresh off of the farm truck from lower Alabama, I came to Paris when Michelin ruled the culinary scene. Yves Camdeborde was working with Chef Christian Constant at the Crillon “palace”, Guy Savoy was working hard to earn his third Michelin star and budding future rock stars Gregory Marchand (Frenchie), Stéphane Jego (L’Ami Jean) and Bruno Doucet (La Regalade) were still teenagers growing up in the Loire.

Although Yves was ambitious and talented, even he was completely unaware that a decision he would make in just a few short years would change everything.

While working at the Crillon, Yves was offered a deal on a restaurant space in southern Paris one block from the Peripherique. It was hardly an ideal location but the offer was too good to turn down.

His plan was simple. Throw out all formal dining rules and serve haute cuisine food in a bistro setting at ridiculously low prices so that everyone could afford to gather around the table. Joel Robuchon once visited La Regalade and famously quipped that the concept would “never” work. That concept did work and not only did Yves Camdeborde become the leader of the modern bistronomy revolution but he trained and inspired many to follow the same path – including top protégé Stephane Jego.

Today? I can’t imagine a culinary Paris without bistros such as Le Comptoir, Le Chateaubriand, La Regalade, Bistrot Paul Bert, Frenchie, Afaria, L’Ami Jean, Rino, Roseval, Septime, Cafe Constant, Le Repaire de Cartouche, etc.

Although Yves eventually sold La Regalade to Chef Bruno Doucet to launch his second and wildly popular Le Comptoir bistro – the same convivial spirit and fantastic affordable cooking remains.

Over the years, I’ve been to my fair share of food industry parties but yesterday was unforgettably personal for each one of us on many levels.

As a Southerner, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the line from the movie Fried Green Tomatoes when I looked around to see hundreds of family & friends arriving with great joy, kissing cheeks, shaking hands, raising glasses, smiling, laughing and hugging: “It’s funny how a little place like this (Whistle Stop Café) brought so many people together.”

Thank you for a great 20 years Yves and La Regalade!!!!!!!