VANCOUVER — One of Vancouver’s most celebrated and acclaimed chefs, Michel Jacob, is hanging up his apron at Le Crocodile one last time on Apr. 30, 2024. Jacob will hand the keys to his long-time friend and colleague Rob Feenie, who will take the reins and re-open the restaurant as Le Crocodile by Rob Feenie early this summer.
Le Crocodile has long been considered one the city’s best fine dining French destinations, renowned for showcasing the best of French cuisine, with a focus on Alsace classics. The restaurant opened in 1983 and was originally inspired by Michelin-starred Au Crocodile in Jacob’s hometown of Strasbourg, France.
Throughout his career, Jacob has received numerous accolades, including Vancouver Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award, being inducted into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame and, most recently, being named an Officer in the Ordre du Mérite Agricole (Order of Agricultural Merit) by the French government for highlighting the finest Alsatian food using ingredients from France.
“It’s time for a well-deserved retirement,” says Jacob. “I’m so happy to have found a remarkable successor, my dear friend Rob Feenie, who is like family to me and shares my passion for French cuisine. I know the next chapter of Le Crocodile will be just as incredible. I feel extremely grateful and content for the career I’ve enjoyed. Thank you to my staff, customers and all those who have believed in Le Crocodile since day one.”
“I got my start at Le Crocodile as a sous chef, working alongside Michel, who I long consider my mentor, dear friend and family,” says Feenie, who worked at Le Crocodile from 1992 to 1995. “Simply put, I love to make great food. I couldn’t think of a better place to represent who I am as a chef and what I love to do. I’m deeply honoured Michel is entrusting me with continuing the legacy he has started at Le Crocodile and look forward to sharing more details in the coming weeks and months.”
