Since 1969, Gunter Preuss has built a reputation among American food writers as New Orleans’ premier master of classic cuisine. As a second-generation restaurateur trained in the European tradition, he began his apprenticeship at a health spa in West Germany; many years and miles later he landed in New Orleans at the Fairmont Hotel. He opened his own restaurant, Versailles, in 1972 bringing Continental Cuisine to New Orleans. In 1993 he and Evelyn acquired Broussard’s, the historic French Quarter establishment. The native Berliner claims, “I’m a real Prussian in the kitchen”—fastidious, exacting, creative, and never, never satisfied. At the same time, he is gracious and warm, liking nothing better than sharing a vintage wine with visitors in Broussard’s cozy bar. Profiled in the “Great Chefs of New Orleans” series on PBS, Gunter has been the recipient of both Mobil Guide and Travel Holiday awards as well as the prestigious DiRoNA award.
If Gunter Preuss can be said to give Broussard’s its character, his wife and business partner Evelyn can be said to give it its style. She has turned her talent and considerable energy toward the revitalization of Broussard’s. Her goal, she says, is a simple one—perfection. Toward that end, Evelyn works tirelessly. Her mornings are frequently spent planting flowers in the restaurant’s courtyard and her afternoons are spent carefully checking each table. While Gunter oversees the kitchen and son Marc handles day-to-day operations, Evelyn concentrates on the personal touches, the visual details that elevate a good restaurant to a great one.
Their son, Marc Preuss, joined the restaurant as general manger, bringing a wealth of modern experience with him. He was awarded a bachelor’s degree in hotel/restaurant administration from the prestigious Salzburger Hotel School in Bad Hofgastein, Austria. His internships included a posting in the famed Hotel Rhodania in Verbier, Switzerland. He held major leadership roles in some of the finest establishments around the world including the Ritz Carlton Hotel and the Sun International Resorts Palace Hotel in South Africa. Having now returned to New Orleans, and the family business, he continues to focus on delivering the highest service standards as befits his family legacy and Broussard’s tradition. |