In 2012 Francois decided to move on into semi-retirement spending his time in Thailand, occasionally returning to Dubai to visit Friends.
Instead Francois opened a Restaurant "Chez Francois" at:
33/2 Moo1 Fisherman's village, Amphoe Koh Sa-Mui, Surat Thani, Thailand !!-Francois at his Restaurant
Chef Francois spent nearly 30 years in Dubai producing remarkable food on a daily basis.
Francois first came to Dubai as Chef at Dubai Country Club in 1980s
He made Dubai Country Club one of Dubai's Fine Dining experiences
Francois then established Le Classique Restaurant at Emirates Golf Club as Dubai's top restaurant in 1990s.
Chef Francois was a major influence on Dubai's Fine Dining.
Chef Francois was born in 1943 a small town called Valentine in the South of France where he lived Valentine until he was 15 years of age.
Then Francois started a 4 year apprenticeship as Commis Chef in a family owned “Hotel de la Gare” in Lannemezan, a town in Southern France. He completed his military service during the Algiers war as a Chef in French Legionaires's Officers' Mess in Algiers.
From 1964 to 1966 Francois spent his summers in Lourdes and winters as a French Pyrenees Ski Resort Chef before moving to UK to be Head Chef of a small restaurant in East Sussex. The Restaurant's Owner bought a plantation in Barbados in 1969 which Francois helped transform into a restaurant and hotel.
After spending 5 years in West Indies, Francois returned to UK to open his own restaurant in Seaford, East Sussex.
Dubai Country Club Chairman head hunted Chef Francois as DCC's Head Chef.
Francois quickly raised DCC's dining standards which soon became "The Place" to dine in Dubai. Francois reputation grew.
British Embassy in Dubai invited Francois to cook for UK's Princess Anne during her 1987 Dubai visit.
Francois remained at DCC until 1988 when he moved to the newly opened Emirates Golf Club to be Executive Chef.
Francois established EGC's Le Classique Restaurant as the best restaurant in Dubai.
In 1996, girls in Level 5 of Dubai Women's College Communications Technology Department were given one term to produce a "pilot" cookery programme for Television as part of their training programme.
After collecting questionnaires from Dubai' shopping malls, the girls decided quick and easy meals cooked by professional Chefs were what people wanted to see on TV.
Gavin Duthie, Executive Chef Ramada Hotel and Francois Porte, Executive Chef Emirate's Golf Club were selected for their lively personality and professionalism on camera. These Chefs were enthusiastic and soon offering ideas and suggestions for the set design. Dishes were agreed and Set requirements sent to the Graphics group. With the Set design completed, filming started.
The two Chefs took to the cameras like ducks to orange sauce and had a great rapport. Gavin did the commentating while Francois revelled in the cooking! First course was Spaghetti with cream cheese, mushroom and veal bacon, followed by steamed hammour with sauteed vegetables and a saffron and orange sauce. Fresh fruit dessert with raspberry coulis was the finale.
The programme required an enormous amount of preparation by the students to achieve professional broadcast standards. "Meals in Minutes" pilot programme was screened on Dubai's Channel 33.
It’s rare to come across a restaurant that earns universal acclaim, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone with a bad word to say about chef Francois Porte’s Chez Francois.
Guests enter on a street close to the Fisherman’s Village through a large, ornate door into a cozy space with black and white checkered floors, and a large wooden centerpiece table.
At the back is a small bar.
The menu changes daily, depending on what Porte finds at the market.
Reservations are a must.
Koh Samui Dining
Chez Francois
33/2 Moo 1, Fisherman’s Village,
Surat Thani,
Bophut,
Koh Samui,
84320, Thailand
+66 (0) 96 071 1800
