"For me, the word 'travel' has long rhymed with 'holiday'; that positive state where you settle into a space of freedom without any worries. Having said that, flying today has changed a lot. The protocol before entering the cabin is sometimes worthy of an obstacle course. I realised when I went to open one of my restaurants in Singapore that when I travel for work, my perception really changes. I've got a lot of things on my mind, appointments to keep. So my willingness to look at everything fades and I'm less receptive to this elsewhere...
When I was a child, we used to go on holiday with my parents to the provinces or neighbouring countries, but it wasn't really an immersion in another culture. My first big trip was in 1972, when I'd just got my driving licence and bought a 2CV to go with my best friend to Afghanistan. An old dream. I was fascinated by the Paris-Persepolis-Paris rally and wanted to do the same. Except that I didn't have the time to go all the way to Iran, so I set Istanbul as the final stage. We set off from the Dauphiné via Italy, then entered Yugoslavia. That was the first shock: the road along the coast passed through some sublime landscapes, but it was poorly maintained and, in the villages we passed through, you could feel the weight of communism. Everything looked a bit grey. When we arrived at Edirne, at the border with Turkey, we felt a huge wind of freedom. In the midst of a chorus of horns, people were overtaking on the left and the right. It was all a joy. And Istanbul, what a capital, with its hectic atmosphere, its bazaars, its minarets... We were finally at the gateway to the Orient. Jubilant!
The other big thrill was arriving in New York in the 1980s. It was unimaginable, all those 'blocks' with skyscrapers that almost blocked out the light. It was the first time that, with both feet on the ground, I felt dizzy. There was nothing like it in France, apart from a scale model of the emerging La Défense district. The whole city exuded an uncommon immensity and energy. I was also confronted with immensity in Niger, in the Ténéré desert. In that landscape of endless dunes, it was so beautiful that I wanted to be a bird to fly over them... Today, I've refocused on France. Having lived in the Dauphiné, I have a very strong relationship with the countryside. And there's one that's very close to my heart at the moment, and that's the countryside around Sète. This town lives at its own pace, even outside the summer period, in a balance between the wild and the urban. Almost self-sufficient. When you're there, you feel the whole environment, the sea, the market gardeners, the oysters in the Etang de Thau... I also like to take a TGV train to Alsace or the South of France, just for three days. I really enjoy these short breaks. This autumn, for example, I went back to the region where I grew up and wandered through its incredibly colourful forests, not forgetting a few stops at markets full of flavours and scents. An old chef's reflex!
Its dates
1953
That's where it starts!
1968
I'm deciding what to do with my life. I'm leaving the school system to embark on an apprenticeship.
1980
I open my first restaurant.
2002
My restaurant was awarded its third Michelin star. I think of it as a gold medal at the Olympic Games. With one difference: I have to defend it all my working life, twice a day and at every table...
Guy Savoy restaurant.
18, rue Troyon. 75017 Paris.
Tel.: 01 43 80 40 61
Internet : guysavoy.com
