Chef Thomas Keller's protégés prosper in restaurant world

Chef Thomas Keller’s protégés prosper in restaurant world

1/5

Chef Grant Achatz’s restaurants include Alinea and Next in Chicago. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)

2/5

Rory Herrmann is director of culinary operations for Sprout Restaurant Group in Los Angeles. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

3/5

Danish chef Rene Redzepi is co-owner of the famed Noma in Copenhagen. (Lefteris Pitarakis / Associated Press)

4/5

Corey Lee runs the kitchen of Benu in San Francisco. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

5/5

Eric Ziebold runs the critically acclaimed CityZen in Washington, D.C. ( Marty Katz / Washington Photographer)

By Russ Parsons

June 27, 2014 12:49 PM PT

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Through his restaurants — the French Laundry and Ad Hoc in Napa Valley, Per Se in New York and Bouchons in Beverly Hills, Las Vegas and Yountville, Calif. — Thomas Keller has given a start to some of today’s brightest young chefs. Here are just a few.

Grant Achatz, Alinea, Next, Chicago

Jonathan Benno, Lincoln Ristorante, New York

Richard Blais, “Top Chef” winner, restaurateur, James Beard-nominated author, television personality, San Diego

Jeff Cerciello, Farmshop, Los Angeles and Marin County

Rory Herrmann, Sprout Restaurant Group, Los Angeles

Timothy Hollingsworth, as-yet-unnamed restaurant at the Broad Museum, Los Angeles

Corey Lee, Benu, San Francisco

Lisa Nakamura, soon-to-open Gnocchi Bar in Seattle

Rene Redzepi, Noma, Copenhagen

Ron Siegel, Michael Mina, San Francisco

Eric Ziebold, CityZen, Washington, D.C.