Opinel as seen by Jean Sulpice

The chef Jean Sulpice confided to us his vision of Opinel for the 130 years of the brand.

JEAN SULPICE, Michelin-starred chef at the Auberge du Père Bise in Annecy

Can you introduce yourself in a few words?

I was born in Aix-les-Bains. I am a child of the pasture, a child of the mountain. Restaurants have run in my family for three generations, and I now continue the tradition with my own restaurant, l’Auberge du Père Bise in Annecy and I am also a Relais & Châteaux chef. My two passions are the great outdoors, where I find inspiration, and gastronomy.

 

 

What is your first Opinel memory?

Marcel, my grandfather, gave me my first Opinel to go mushroom picking. A Savoyard always keeps an Opinel in his pocket. I have collected them ever since.

Many think Opinel is synonymous with expertise and something to be passed on. What values does Opinel convey to you?

Friendship, exchange, and something to pass on. Giving an Opinel is more than giving a knife, it is an object on which the memories of a lifetime get ‘engraved’. I like the way the knife becomes accustomed to its user’s hand. Its wear is proportional to its story.

If you could only choose one Opinel, which would it be?

The Nº10… it is my best friend! You can just slip it in your pocket or backpack, it is very versatile.

Opinel in three words?

Until the end!

Photo credit : Kalice Studio