Krissy Lefebvre Is More Than The French Chef's Wife

Rip & Tan: Tell us a bit about your background. What does your day-to-day look like as Ludo’s key counterpart?

Krissy Lefebvre: I am actually an attorney but haven’t practiced for a while since I took over day-to-day in Ludo’s world. It really all started when I was working with Ludo on LudoBites, the restaurant tour. I had practiced law for about 10 years, focusing on intellectual property and mergers & acquisitions, mostly in the sports space.

Once I started “really” working with Ludo, I knew that I had to do what I loved for and with the person I loved. We have been married for almost 22 years and have worked together for over 10 of those years. Today, I manage everything outside the restaurants for Ludo such as endorsements, PR, marketing, social media, entertainment, special events, both inside and outside the restaurants, and development of future restaurant projects. I sort of miss the day-to-day of the restaurants, but I know my strengths.

Rip & Tan: The restaurant industry has obviously shifted over the past year. How have you worked to evolve your business? Any key takeaways you’ve learned along the way?

Krissy Lefebvre: During the hard lockdowns of 2020 and early 2021, Ludo really craved the connection with his guests. One of the greatest pleasures for Ludo in the restaurants is experiencing the joy that he gives people with his food. In a single week, everything that Ludo has known and been doing since he was 14 seemed stripped away from him.

Ludo only knew how to be a chef, how to cook for people, how to teach the next generation, how to be in the kitchen. All of a sudden none of that existed anymore. It was a very difficult time for all in the restaurant industry, especially those who have only ever done that single profession for 30+ years. Add to sudden loss, the unknown future if restaurants would ever be the same again. It was a very trying time emotionally. I suggested we do a live or two on Instagram just to get him cooking and interacting with people who loved what he does. It was so nice to hear the appreciation that we were helping people through this dark time. We felt a real sense of community. Whether Ludo was teaching people how to make a french omelet or setting his hair on firing a steak, it was all so fun! The perfect escape, but really the perfect step back into reality and normalcy, one hour at a time.

Rip & Tan: What’s next on deck for the world of Chef Ludo?

Krissy Lefebvre: We are really excited about opening Chez Maggy at the Thompson Hotel in Denver in January 2022. We have been working on this project since before the pandemic began and it is really fulfilling to be getting closer to the opening date. It is a very personal restaurant to us as I am from Denver and it is a wonderful way to “return home” with Ludo’s first restaurant outside of Denver. We named the restaurant for my bonus mom, who was killed by a drunk driver in February 2019 in the Denver area.

Rip & Tan: We’d love to hear more about your house. What made you fall in love with the space?

Krissy Lefebvre: The minute we walked into the house we knew we had to buy it. It was in the fall around 5:30pm and the sun was at the perfect golden hour just before sunset. The westward-facing front door opens to a large living space with big windows that look directly on the all tile pool, so the first thing we experienced when we walked in was the beautiful California sunset reflecting the palm trees into the pool. Simply breathtaking.

The Spanish architecture made it feel as though we were in a casita in Mexico or a home in the south of France. We simply felt transported and welcomed upon entering the home.

Rip & Tan: How did you design your home for the way you and your family live?

Krissy Lefebvre: It was really important to us to maintain the architectural integrity of the home. We did not want to move any walls or disrupt the arches and textured plaster walls in the original design. Fortunately or unfortunately, it all depends on the outlook, we bought the home less than 6 months before the pandemic started so our initial grandiose plans were immediately shelved. We “lived,” really lived, in the home during the first seven months of the pandemic and were able to take our time to understand what we wanted to create. Our initial plans had called for a complete demolition of the kitchen, but after spending so much time in the kitchen as a family, Ludo decided he liked the footprint as it was and did not want to change the layout. We simply built functional cabinets, installed new countertops, a beautiful large sink, and appliances, but left the tile floor and everything else the same.

Rip & Tan: From special pieces of art to specific features in a room, are there any details in your home that you still swoon over?

Krissy Lefebvre: I love the concrete floors with the cracks filled with bronze epoxy. The floors look like a piece of art, which maintains the history and stories of the house. Additionally, Ludo paints, so it was really important to showcase his artwork in our home. The piece in the kitchenette area will always be one of my favorites.

Rip & Tan: What does living well mean to you?

Krissy Lefebvre: Living well to me means, living in peace. The outside world is full of so much anger and conflict right now, it is important when I walk through the front door of my home I feel at peace. As I watch the sunset right now, I know our home on the hill is our peaceful place.

 

 

Images: Kate Berry