Bernard LeCoq -
I was born and raised in Brittany, a small farming community population of 2,000. When I turned 16 I moved to Paris to start a 3 year apprenticeship In the Ritz Hotel, during that time I was enrolled at Ecole Hotelliere Jean Drouant which was a school to learn the restaurant industry. After my graduation I went to work at a resort hotel in Quiberon for 5 months where I worked in the seafood station. Following that I worked at the Ministry of Interior in Paris until I was drafted into the French army for 3 years -stationed in Verdun. In the army I was the head chef for the 'Mess Des Officiers'. After my completion in the army I worked in a restaurant in Paris called L'oree Du Bois.

When I was 24 I made the voyage to the United States where I lived in many cities, Chicago, Las Vegas, Scottsdale, AZ and San Francisco. In 1972 I decided to move back to Chicago which is when I opened Cafe Bernard on Halsted St, which at that time was a delapidated neighborhood. 4 years later I opened another Cafe Bernard in Northbrook for about 6 years. In 1980 I opened the first seafood restaurant in Chicago- The Halsted St. Fishmarket. It was very popular for a number of years. Shortly after that I recreated a traditional Italian bakery on Armitage called Chicago Baking Company. In 1988 I opened the Red Rooster in the back of Cafe Bernard which has been a cozy, romantic hideaway spot ever since.

When I have free time I enjoy many activities such as: tennis, skiing and snowboarding which I have done for the past 5 years. In addition I am an avid cyclist, I bike at about 10,000 miles every year. My long time hobby Is stamp collecting. I built up a huge collection, since I've done this since I was 10. My musical talents include playing the diatonique accordion, as well as scottish bagpipes, but the one thing that wins my heart is my passion for good food and wine.