The Chef In The Hat!!! Hailing from the Muscadet region of France, Thierry Rautureau is the James Beard Award-winning chef and owner of Rover’s Restaurant. Raised on a farm Rautureau helped his mother prepare meals for the family. From an early age he learned to appreciate seasonal cooking and utilizing fresh, homegrown ingredients.

At 14, Rautureau began a cooking apprenticeship in Anjou, France and from there continued on a culinary Tour de France, training in the cities of Le Mont Saint Michel in Normandy, Chamonix in the French Alps, and Hendaye in the Pays Basque. With six years of traditional French culinary training behind him, Rautureau headed for the United States and worked with Jean Claude Poilevey at La Fontaine in Chicago.

Three years later, Rautureau continued west to Los Angeles working at The Regency Club for Joachim Splichal and at The Seven Street Bistro with Laurent Quenioux. During a 1987 visit to see a friend, Cyril Frechier, in Seattle, Rautureau dined at Rover’s and discovered the restaurant was for sale. Ready to leave Los Angeles, Rautureau bought and opened Rover’s in 1987. Chef Rautureau lives in Seattle with his wife Kathy and their two sons.

In addition to participating in several culinary events across the country each year, Rautureau is also an active participant in a multitude of charitable organizations and events, both locally and nationally.