Joseph Donon
Founding Father and
President Emeritus 1960-1982

Joseph Donon was born in Aunay en Bazois, France, on Nov. 2l, 1888. His father owned a dairy farm in Chantilly and was also in the transportation business. Because he was a sickly child and terribly fussy about his food, his father advised him to become a chef. A friend of the family, Antoine Ott, who had once been the chef of the Duc d'Aumale, owner of the Chateau de Chantilly, helped young Joseph in his early career.

When Joseph turned 13, he was given an apprenticeship in the kitchens of the Hotel des Arenes in Senlis, which by this time was owned hy Ott. Showing an aptitude for cooking, he was sent to the Maison Gervaise,a large cooking and pastry store in Vincennes to learn pastry for six months. After this training, he worked for eight months as an assistant chef at the Mexican Embassy in Neuilly. He then became assistant to the chef of the marquis de Panisse Passis, at Villeneuve-Loubet, Escoffier's birthplace. At this time, Escoffier was the chef at the Carlton Hotel in London.

One day, on a vacation to his home, Escoffier had lunch with the Marquis, and the Marquis' chef was on vacation, so Joseph Donon prepared the meal. After lunch, the Marquis introduced Donon to his guest, and Escoffier told Donon, "If you are ever in London, come and see me." Joseph was 17, and six weeks later, taking Escoffier at his word, he went to London. Escoffier, not expecting to see him, laughed at his youthful impulsiveness, but allowed him to stay the season at the Carlton Hotel. That was 1905, and for five years thereafter, Donon worked at the Carlton. There were 70 chefs in the kitchen who prepared 200 dinners each night, cooking everything to order.

In 1910, Donon left to complete two years of military service back home in France. In March of l912, he returned to the Carlton. One day Escoffier made the menu and Donon prepared the dinner for Mr. Frick, a wealthy American industrialist. He served Mousse de Sole a l'Americaine as the entre and Poularde Souftlee Princess for the main course. After dinner, Mr. Frick called the young chef in to give him his tip - two 20 dollar gold pieces. Never having seen gold pieces before, Donon at first thought they were medals.

Frick asked Donon to come to America as his chef. They were booked to sail on the Titanic, but Mrs. Frick sprained her ankle, so the plans were changed and they sailed two days later on the North German Lloyd Liner, Amerika. As they crossed the Atlantic, they passed the iceberg and the debris from the Titanic. Fate had plans for Donon.

In l914, only six months after his marriage, he returned to his homeland to serve as a sergeant with the French infantry in the First World War. This patriot, who later became an American citizen, was severely wounded and sent home from service disabled. For his distinguished service in action, he was awarded the Medailles Militaires, the highest French military honor. After his recovery in the USA, her returned to Frick's employ.

In l917, Donon's health and the rigors of the Frick household forced him to look elsewhere for employment. Mr. Frick, who had always been like a father to Donon, advised him and gave him favorable credentials and references.

In l 917, he found a position as chef for Mrs. Hamilton Twombly, the granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt. With her three large estates and constant entertaining, Donor was always faced with a challenge which he met with a flair. For 38 years, he worked in her households as chef until his retirement in 1955 at the age of 67.

For the next 20 years, Joseph Donon enjoyed his retirement at his home in Middletown, R.I., just outside of Newport, called "Villa Chez Nous." To keep himself busy, he was a member of the Epicureans fraternity, the Les Amis d'Escoffier Society of New York, and co-founder and president of the Les Amis d'Escoffier Foundation, Inc., a tax-exempt organization that awards scholarships to talented students to pursue their studies in the culinary field.

He is also the founder and president of the Auguste Escoffier Foundation Museum of Villeneuve-Lobet, Alpes Maritimes, Provence. He was a member and president of the Les Medailles Militaires de New York, a branch of the Paris-centered association of war veterans who have been decorated with France's highest honor, and which raises funds for the orphans of other veterans.

Joseph Donon died at his home on March 19, 1982, at the age of 94.