Serge Vieira (4 April 1977 – 1 July 2023) was a French Michelin-starred chef of the restaurant bearing his name, Serge Vieira, located at Château de Couffour. He was winner of the 2005 Bocuse d'or.
Biography
Serge Vieira was born in Clermont-Ferrand in 1977 to Portuguese parents João and Maria Irene Vieira.[1][2][3][4] He is the youngest of five siblings, and his father works for Michelin.[5]
Vieira obtained a CAP (French certificate for chefs) and then a BEP(secondary diploma), but was refused entry to the Lycée hôtelier in Chamalières.[2] He then made his debut in Chamalières with chef Dominique Robert at La Gravière from 1993 until 1997.[2][3][6] He then continued his training as chef de partie with chef Bernard Andrieu in Clermont-Ferrand (July 1997-May 1998), then at Château de Marçay in Chinon (May–November 1998).[6] He followed this up with a series of three-star restaurants, starting with three years at Saint-Père-sous-Vézelay under chef Marc Meneau at L'Espérance as chef de partie from September 1999.[6]Régis Marcon then took him on as second chef at L'Auberge des Cimes in Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid for three years, starting in March 2003.[2][6]
Bocuse d'Or and two stars
In 2005, Vieira won the Bocuse d'Or, prepared with the help of Régis Marcon.[2] From then on, he travelled the world for professional training courses and various performances. In 2009, he decided to settle in the Cantal region, and on 10 April opened a restaurant bearing his name at Château de Couffour in Chaudes-Aigues. It's a 40-seat troglodyte restaurant set below the château, with access through the roof.[5][7] After just one year, it was awarded its first star, followed by a second in 2012.[2][8]
Vieira's cuisine was characterised by the absence of signature dishes. For him, "The signature dish is a prison. I want people to come to us because they don't know what they're going to taste. Renewal is essential".[9]
Opening of Sodade
In 2019, Vieira opened a second establishment, consisting of a four-star hotel and a 50-60 place brasserie restaurant named Sodade, recalling his Portuguese origins.[1][3][5] He presided over the French Bocuse d'Or team.[4][5] He also assisted and trained the Australian team for the Bocuse d'Or.[8] He helped chef Davy Tissot win the Bocuse d'Or 2021.[8] In January 2020, his restaurant Château de Couffour was awarded the sustainable gastronomy label.[5]
Charity
Vieira organized the Tournament des étoilés, a soccer tournament in which almost 500 Michelin-starred chefs took part, with all proceeds going to the Les enfants du jardin association.[10]
Personal life and death
Vieira met his future wife, Marie-Aude, at Château de Marçay.[2] Marie-Aude Vieira is the daughter of goatherds[1] and the couple had two children.[2][1] In January 2020, Marie-Aude Vieira received a Service Award from the Michelin Guide.[7]