Zen & science

With his interest and respect for Asian cuisine and culture, his French roots and mounting fame, it is little wonder that Thierry Marx attracted the attention of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group who was looking for a chef to head the kitchen at Sur Mesure, within their newly-opened Paris hotel on Rue Saint Honoré.

The appointment came directly from Edouard Ettedgui, group chief executive of the international hotel group with headquarters in Hong Kong. Gilles Humeau, vice president of sales for Southern Europe, reveals that “chef Thierry was chosen specifically for Sur Mesure because of his innovative French cuisine combined with a love of the cultural and gastronomic values of Asia which are a cornerstone of Mandarin Oriental’s manifesto”.

Asian values are important to Marx. As a practicing Buddhist, he visits a monastery to the north of Kyoto in Japan each year. “Buddhism has influenced my cooking in subtle but important ways. I now look more to nature and have greater respect for the ingredients I use,” he explains. “Through Buddhism, and my time at the monastery, I have an increased sense of self awareness which allows me to interpret my dishes in a ‘cleaner’ way.”

Excerpt from the October issue of epicure.