Claude Rouas Principal, Vice-Chairman, Auberge Resorts Mr. Rouas had his early training in Paris at Maxims and the Hotel Meurice. For many years Mr. Rouas was the owner and operator of L’Etoile, one of San Francisco’s premier restaurants. Mr. Rouas, with Mr. Robert Harmon, founded Piatti Restaurant Company, which owns and operates 17 restaurants in California and four other Western States. Mr. Rouas is a member of the Restaurant Hall of Fame.