Frenchman Andre Simon Teissonniere was born to work in the hospitality industry. His parents ran restaurants in Provence and Paris, giving him the grounding in a profession that he would pursue for the rest of his life.
Teissonniere came to New Plymouth in the mid-1970s to work as a chef in the old Westown Hotel on Maratahu Street. In 1976 he opened his own restaurant, Andre's L'Escargot, on Devon Street East, single-handedly introducing gourmet French cuisine to the region.
The restaurant moved to an historic building on Brougham Street in 1984, a location that became synonymous with fine dining for nearly thirty years. In 1992 Teissonniere bought the adjacent property, doubling the size of his restaurant.
Andre's L'Escargot won numerous awards over the years and arguably set the benchmark against which other local restaurants were judged.
Andre Teissonniere died on 13 June 2013. L'Escargot has since closed and the distinctive red buildings at 41-43 Brougham Street are currently home to Italian restaurant Area 41.
Documents
Dining out restaurant reviews for L'Escargot Taranaki Herald 1985-1986
Fine food helps put L'Escargot in finals by Lindsay Davis Taranaki Daily News 16 November 1994
Numero un by Sue Carrington Taranaki Daily News 21 November 2006
French connection by Greta Cleary Taranaki Daily News 2 April 2008
Service the key to long career by John Anthony Taranaki Daily News 21 May 2012
Fond memories of a great friend and chef by John de Bueger Taranaki Daily News 14 June 2013
Auction of Andre's marks end of an era by Lyn Humphreys and Helen Harvey Taranaki Daily News 9 October 2013
Wine connoisseur's collection up for tender by Taryn Utiger Taranaki Daily News 14 November 2013
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