Chef Dominique Crenn: Translating Fashion into Culinary Art
When renowned chef Dominique Crenn, the mastermind behind the Michelin three-star Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, was commissioned to design a restaurant for luxury fashion brand Dior, she turned to her imagination. In a vivid dream, she found herself strolling down Rodeo Drive hand-in-hand with the iconic designer Christian Dior. They discussed the essence of haute cuisine, and from that dream emerged Crenn’s latest venture: Monsieur Dior by Dominique Crenn, located in the heart of Beverly Hills.
A Culinary Return to Los Angeles
Monsieur Dior marks Dominique Crenn’s first culinary venture in Los Angeles in nearly 20 years. Before establishing her San Francisco empire with Atelier Crenn and Bar Crenn, she honed her skills at Manhattan Country Club before launching Santa Monica’s Abode. Her departure from Los Angeles in 2007 was marked by significant media appearances, including Netflix’s “Chef’s Table” and collaboration on films like “The Menu.” Now, she returns with a menu steeped in concept and creativity.
The Essence of Dior in Every Dish
For Chef Crenn, the collaboration with Dior isn’t merely about food; it’s about storytelling. “For me, it was a way to bring my DNA — the French DNA — and celebrate something that struck me: textures, colors, or stories associated with Dior’s designs,” Crenn expressed. This passion translates onto the plate, where each dish evokes a visual representation of iconic Dior designs.
Dish details reveal the layers of thought—dabs of cauliflower purée surrounding short ribs echo a pearl necklace donned by Marilyn Monroe when she wore Dior. Similarly, dark tuile atop truffle agnolotti symbolizes the black lace from a gown worn by Charlize Theron, while houndstooth-patterned caviar pays tribute to a jacket once graced by Ingrid Bergman.
Cultivating a Personal Connection
Crenn’s passion for this project goes deeper than style. Through extensive research—scouring the Dior archives, interviewing long-standing employees, and frequenting the Dior Paris museum—she found familial parallels tying her to the legendary fashion house. Dior’s sister fought in the French Resistance during World War II, akin to the legacy of Crenn’s father, a young member of the same resistance.
“I got more emotional about their family story, so when I started to work with them, I was very, very excited,” said Crenn. This culinary venture becomes a conduit through which she pours her soul, bridging family histories and intertwining her late mother’s admiration for Dior.
Celebrating Culinary Design
The bar menu, infused with finesse, presents bites that resonate with Dior’s love for gardens—potato choux crafted into roses and caviar-and-crab nori rolls adorned with delicate blooms. The desserts encapsulate Dior’s essence in their design, such as a chocolate-and-cherry cake shaped like the iconic Lady Dior bag.
Amidst Crenn’s curated offerings, her accomplished team—including Executive Chef Cameron Ingle and General Manager Anastasia Kondratieva—plays a pivotal role in refining the experience. Crenn emphasizes that although the restaurant bears her name, it is a genuine collaboration with many talented individuals working seamlessly to create a breathtaking experience.
A Vision Year in the Making
The partnership with Dior initiated three years ago, setting the stage for a culinary renaissance in the U.S. Crenn’s journey began with Café Dior by Dominique Crenn, which opened in Dallas amid a shifting dining landscape. Her early aspirations of uniting culinary arts with fashion took a personal dimension as she reminisced about her ambitions penned in her journal: “One day I will work with a fashion house.”
Dining Experience at Monsieur Dior
Monsieur Dior is open Sunday to Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and extend hours with longer services from Wednesday to Saturday, where culinary artistry comes alive in each carefully designed dish. Set against the backdrop of Rodeo Drive’s luxury, it promises a dining experience that transcends mere sustenance—the food encapsulates artistry, emotion, and history, inviting patrons to taste the very stories that inspired it all.
Location:
323 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills
Contact: (310) 594-7018
Website: monsieurdiorbeverlyhills.com
Through her work, Crenn invites patrons not only to dine but to embark on a journey through the tales of haute couture, fostering connections between elegance in fashion and beauty on the plate, breathing life into the exquisite legacy of Christian Dior in a gastronomic format.