Alain LeNotre

Alain and his wife Marie own the Culinary Institute LeNotre. Alain is a certified pastry chef, candy maker and ice cream maker; he was also trained as a cook at the Grand Véfour, a famous 3-Star Michelin Restaurant in Paris. He has over 40 years of experience. Alain earned an executive MBA from the University of Paris I. Alain comes from a famous Parisian family.

30 years ago he created the chef school Ecole Lenotre in Paris, France, one of the world's best retraining schools, where he taught for a number of years. He developed the international LeNotre pastry shop franchise and technical assistance departments, expanding the LeNotre chains in Japan, Germany and Brazil while also helping his parents' business become the number one caterer in France. After receiving a request for a franchise in Texas, Alain and Marie were invited to visit Houston, Texas in 1981. Ultimately they started their own business there, first with a retail and wholesale bakery. In 1998, they opened an international cooking and baking school for career seekers, career changers, food enthusiasts and also for continuing education. As their fame was spreading they have been asked to franchise their "Know How" in the Middle East. There are now six "Alain LeNotre" restaurants and bakeries in Cairo, Egypt. Alain LeNôtre motto is: "Tradition, quality & respect". He chose the word tradition because he is the 3rd generation of chefs in the LeNotre family.

Marie LeNotre

Marie LeNotre was appointed Director of the Culinary Institute LeNotre in 1998. Marie has a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the University of Houston, a Bachelors Degree in Drama from the University of Athens, Greece, a Master's Degree in Public Health Education, from the University of Texas, and a Master's Degree in English and Creative Writing from the University of Houston.

In 2001, Marie LeNotre, with a group of philanthropist socialites in Houston, created the Culinary Endowment & Scholarship, a Texas non-for-profit organization that raises scholarship funds for underprivileged students who aspire to a culinary career. 100 tuition scholarships have been disbursed so far to such students after many charity galas and the support of many generous friends. Marie was the 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 President of the Houston, Texas Chapter Les Dames d' Escoffier, a society of professional women of achievement in the food and beverage industry.