I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that we have lost a friend and mentor. Thierry Rautureau was a gem of a human. Kind, talented, patient, smart, understanding; all the things, as they say. When Shaun and I moved here in 2010, Thierry hired me as his opening manager at Luc. We had a lot of the same culinary acquaintances in common and hit it off right away. I can’t tell you how lucky I was to have him and Kathy as my first employers in Seattle. They welcomed me with open arms and treated me like family. I still have the lovely notes they sent me when I moved on from Luc.
While Shaun and I were setting up Copine, Thierry spent countless hours over a good meal or glass of wine (or a Lucatini) offering us advice and support; it really meant so much to us. He was a shrewd businessman and honestly could not have been more generous with his time. And the beauty of him is that he was like that to everyone. He did so much to improve the lives of the people around him.
About 2 months ago we asked them to join us for a quiet dinner to be able to catch up. The pandemic, scheduling and then his illness had prevented us from getting together sooner. I have never been more grateful to have spent an evening with anyone. His positivity was just unmatched. They were getting ready to take another trip and he was embracing every moment of life. The stories and laughter are something I will hold close to me forever.
We miss you. Thank you, Thierry. For all of it.