Calgary chef fatally attacked weeks before realizing dream of opening own restaurant

Just weeks before he was set to realize his dream of opening his own shop, Calgary chef Christophe Herblin was killed when he was attacked during an apparent break-in on the weekend.

Police believe at least three people were trying to break into a cannabis store attached to Herblin's shop when they attacked him in the strip mall parking lot.

Herblin, who had worked all over the world at high-end resorts, restaurants and hotels, including most recently at Calgary's Glencoe Club, was attacked Saturday morning outside Croque Saveurs, a French market and deli due to open next month.

The signage for the shop was installed 10 days ago.

"Sign was hung yesterday," wrote Herblin on the Instagram page for Croque Saveurs. "Construction is moving along. Target opening early April. Hopefully the target stays still."

• Man was killed after his southwest Calgary business was broken into, police say

Police have not yet publicly identified Herblin but family and friends have posted about his death on social media. He leaves behind a wife and daughter.

On her Facebook page, Herblin's wife said her husband was "realizing his dream of opening his own shop." 

In the early morning hours on Saturday, Herblin responded to a break-in alarm at his business on Bow Trail at 37th Street S.W., according to Calgary police.

Herblin waited in the parking lot for three hours for Croque Saveurs to be secured.

Around 6 a.m., he was approached by at least three people who police suspect were trying to break into Spiritleaf, a cannabis store connected to Herblin's shop.

It's believed the suspects were trying to get in through Croque Saveurs. Herblin was attacked, surviving long enough to get to a nearby gas station to ask for help.

Herblin worked all over the world

Herblin died before he could be taken to hospital.

According to Croque Saveurs' website, Herblin grew up in southwest France and was "captivated by all things food and bread."

Herblin attended cooking school in France and went on to work at prestigious hotels and restaurants all over Europe before moving to Canada.

Here, he worked at private clubs, resorts and high-end restaurants. Herblin's LinkedIn page indicates he was most recently working at the Glencoe Club.

According to Croque Saveurs' website, Herblin wanted to "bring some authentic French flair to Calgarians in a fast, casual setting with Croque Saveurs: a French market & deli."