The exam period is coming to an end for the students of the hotel lycée Montaleau de Sucy.
What does it matter if an event awaits them again this Thursday: all will be installed in front of their TV, this Wednesday evening, to attend the final of the Top Chef show.
"Out of the question to miss it, I will watch with my parents and two of my sisters," says Loïc Rakontoson.
The BTS hotel and restaurant management student dreams of only one thing: to pursue his career as a chef as well as Mohamed Cheikh, who has worked in large Parisian palaces.
The 28-year-old Fontenaysian finished his studies at the Lycée de Sucy in 2010 and found himself this Wednesday evening in the final of the M6 cooking show. A showcase of French gastronomy in which all the great chefs flock.
“Mohamed's career is impressive,” defends Loïc, 19, who himself has just tried Objectif Top Chef, Top Chef's little sister but intended for beginners.
His plates are pretty crazy, like his juxtaposition of lamb cooking that blew me away.
My whole class follows Top Chef, we hope he will come back to teach next year.
"
To read also "Top Chef", season 12, episode 17: Sarah and Mohamed spin in the final, Matthias remains on the floor
The chef remains loyal to the establishment where his childhood passion for cooking has become a profession.
He takes students on internships, and still comes to give cooking master classes, as in February 2020. "Look, they had worked well", supports Loïc, scrolling on the school's Instagram account the photos of the dishes made in the kitchens of the establishment.
The chef himself is a fan of social networks, promising in response to support posts on the high school's Instagram account "Hope to come back to see you".
"I hope to reach his level one day"
A pleasure that Joao Alves-Da Silva would gladly share, who was lucky enough to obtain an internship with Mohamed Cheikh when he was still officiating at the Drugstore on the Champs-Élysées for the three-star chef Éric Fréchon.
“It was December 2019 and it went really well,” remembers the high school student, just 19, enthusiastically.
Lycée Montaleau this Tuesday.
Joao Alves-Da Silva, a student at Montaleau, had the chance to get an internship at the Drugstore alongside Mohamed Cheikh.
Laure parny
Originally from Brazil where he grew up until he was 10, the young student from Limeil-Brévannes confirmed his passion for cooking in the restaurant then run by Mohamed Cheikh.
“I learned a lot there!
Mohamed took me with him for a whole day, it was very educational.
I admire him a lot and hope to reach his level one day.
"
A revealing internship at the Petit Bofinger in Vincennes
A level revealed by Top Chef, and which cannot be denied.
The ephemeral restaurant that Mohamed Cheikh has just opened in the Jardin des Plantes, the Manzili, is already full.
This does not surprise the principal of the Lycée Montaleau.
“Even if I didn't have him as a student, people talk to me a lot about him, laughs Serge Morfan.
He arrived here very young, gradually confirmed his passion for cooking and above all he knew how to listen to the advice of his teachers.
"
When he recounts his career, Mohamed Cheikh also greets his internship supervisors, such as the chef of Petit Bofinger de Vincennes who trusted him.
“In four days there, my vocation was confirmed,” Mohamed told Parisian Val-de-Marne last February.
The contact with customers, the atmosphere of a restaurant, I immediately found my place.
“All was not easy, however, for the Fontenaysien, victim of racism during certain courses, but who always found beautiful homes to welcome him, presenting himself with the nerve.
His mantra?
“Despite the obstacles, it's worth the fight.
“A motivation that will be necessary again for the final, this Wednesday evening at 9:05 pm on M 6.
The hope that he opens a restaurant in Fontenay
Will we one day be able to dine with chef Mohamed Cheikh in his town?
In any case, this is an option that the mayor of Fontenay does not exclude.
Jean-Philippe Gautrais (FDG) got to know Mohamed Cheikh two years ago and then had lunch at the Drugstore.
The two Fontenaysiens spoke to each other again in January, then in March.
“I had the chance to eat at Manzili five days ago and everyone is telling me about the photo posted on the networks.
In Fontenay everyone follows Mohamed ”, underlines the elected official who believes that“ he will win ”.
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For years, Fontenay has longed for the installation of a large table in the town.
“The premises are lacking, but things will change in the next two years, promises the mayor.
We talked about it with Mohamed, it would be a chance for him and for us that he moved to Fontenay!
He is a touching, cheeky, talented chef who carries the territory high in his heart.
"
And the mayor to have fun that Mohamed faces in the final of Top Chef a certain Sarah… She also a high school student in Fontenay, in Picasso, a few years ago!
Last year, Diego Alary, from Ivry-sur-Seine, defended Val-de-Marne in the most famous cooking show.