In Colmar, the bright room of JY’S now overlooks the park, but the story of its chef does not fit into this polished menu. Behind the two Michelin stars, there is a restaurateur’s son marked by fire, by New York exile, by a recent bereavement. For a long time, each service seemed like a silent fight to be recognized in its name.
It is this bumpy journey which gives its full meaning to what many now call Jean-Yves Schillinger’s “star of revenge”: a second Michelin star won at the cost of a life of ruptures, and which still dialogues with the memory of a deceased father and an adored wife.
Jean-Yves Schillinger, a son of two stars who is looking for his place
Born in Colmar in 1963, grandson of winegrowers and fourth generation of cooks, Jean-Yves Schillinger grew up in the impressive shadow of his father, Jean Schillinger, who went from a simple bistro to a double-starred restaurant in 1974 then 1986. High standards are then the norm, almost a mother tongue, in a house where the rigor of the profession structures everything.
he confides in an interview with Nouvelles Gastronomiques. At the hotel school, he got excited when he was offered a competition: The tone was set.
From New York to JY’S Colmar, building a kitchen of freedom
His father then sent him to Gérard Boyer, to Crillon then to Joël Robuchon. There, discipline reaches another level. , he smiles. Back in Alsace, his more precise cuisine accompanies the family house towards the second star, but the characters clash. An argument took him to New York in 1987, to work with Jean-Jacques Rachou, with a salary of $2,000 a week, or around $1,800.
Meeting Kathia in 1992 changed everything. , he remembers. Very quickly, . She joined the family business, encouraged by Jean-Yves’ father:
Second Michelin star, intimate dramas and real revenge
On the night of December 26 to 27, 1995, an arson attack destroyed the family restaurant and killed Jean Schillinger, who was asphyxiated. His son refuses the word accident, feels alone, takes the road to New York. He opened Destinée there in 1997 then Olica two years later, with up to 300 or 350 seats per service, praised by the . But Alsace caught up with him: in 2002, with Marc Rinaldi, he launched JY’S in Colmar, avant-garde and lounge, first star in 2004, he says.
In 2013, he announced his goal of a second star to Michelin and was sharply rejected. He answers: In 2016, the promise is kept, without a dedicated sommelier or silver cutlery. The dates match, 1974/1986 for the father, 2004/2016 for the son, same age of 52 to access the second badge. In 2020, JY’S moves to L’Esquisse Hôtel & Spa; On August 26, 2025, Kathia died of cancer at age 54. Since then, a cart of sweets named “Kathia” has crossed the room, a discreet tribute to the woman who was his water when he was the fire. And when he summarizes his journey, he slips again:
Who is Jean-Yves Schillinger?
Jean-Yves Schillinger is a two-star Michelin chef, born in Colmar in 1963, heir to a line of chefs. After an initial career in New York, he created JY’S in Colmar, where he creates cuisine with French, New York and Asian influences.
Why are we talking about the “star of revenge” for Jean-Yves Schillinger?
His second Michelin star obtained in 2016 is experienced as an intimate revenge on a journey marked by the shadow of a twice-starred father, an arson which cost the latter his life and numerous professional restarts.
What role did Kathia play at JY’S Colmar?
Kathia, met in 1992, was the wife and partner of Jean-Yves Schillinger. In the dining room, she embodied welcome and gentleness. Since her death in 2025, a cart of sweets called “Kathia” has perpetuated her symbolic presence in the restaurant.
Where is JY’S located in Colmar today?
Since 2020, JY’S has been installed within L’Esquisse Hôtel & Spa in Colmar, in a contemporary setting opening onto a park, designed for the comfort of teams and customers, in accordance with its status as a two-star Michelin restaurant.
