A Michelin-starred chef has quit his job at a luxury hotel in Biarritz after an assistant chef was allegedly tied to a chair, stripped, and held for hours during an initiation ritual. Chef Aurelien Largeau was in charge of the five-star restaurant at the Hôtel du Palais in southwestern France until December 21, the hotel’s management said, the BBC reported, citing News.ro.

The daily newspaper Sud Ouest wrote that the cook’s help would be subjected to “humiliating actions”.

Bayonne Attorney General Jérôme Bourrier told AFP that so far no complaint had been filed with the prosecutor’s office, but that the prosecutor’s office had reported it on its own and had opened a preliminary investigation into allegations of sexual assault and violence in connection with the events that will take place at the Hôtel du Palais. luxury hotel in Biarritz.

The cook’s assistant was undressed and subjected to the “initiation” ritual.

The “disturbing incident” also led to the departure of the luxury hotel’s Michelin-starred chef Aurelien Largeau, the Hyatt group, which runs the hotel, told AFP on Thursday.

According to Sud Ouest, the incident happened in the kitchen on December 2.

For several hours, the young assistant chef was tied naked to a chair, with an apple in his mouth and a carrot in his ass in front of the team members and in the presence of the chef Aurelien Largeot. The images were recorded and shared on social media, although they were later removed.

“The management of the Hôtel du Palais has been informed of the disturbing incident that took place on the property and of the images that were broadcast,” said a representative of the Hyatt group, which manages the hotel.

“This incident does not reflect the values ​​we uphold, an investigation was conducted and appropriate decisions were made. The safety, health and well-being of our colleagues, customers and partners are our top priorities,” he added.

A chef with a Michelin star has lost his job

Chef Aurelien Largeau, 31, “officially denied the allegations against him”, telling France Bleu Pays Basque that they were “false and defamatory”.

Aurelien Largeau said that “obviously, he condemns any form of mistreatment, initiation or humiliation within the team and in general. I would never associate myself with such behavior,” he added, noting that he was preparing a defense together with his lawyers.

According to Sud Ouest, Aurelien Largeau left on December 21. The chef, who in 2020 was brought in to manage the restaurant of the five-star hotel, already received a Michelin star last year.

The municipality of Biarritz, the main shareholder of the parastatal company that owns the hotel, Socomix, whose personnel management is delegated to the Hyatt group, declined to comment on the matter.

“I learned from the press,” said Patrick Destizon, one of the company’s directors and a municipal councilor in Biarritz. Management, this episode was not mentioned,” he said.

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