World's most-starred Michelin chef Joel Robuchon dead at 73
Joel Robuchon, the world’s most-starred Michelin chef and regarded as one of the “chefs of the century” has died aged 73.
Robuchon, who was hailed as one of four “chefs of the century” by the French restaurant guide Gault Millau industry bible in 1990, founded a string of restaurants that revolutionised fine dining across three continents, ratcheting up a whopping 31 Michelin stars.
In 2016, he held a world record 32, the Guardian reported.
From Tokyo to Paris and Macao, foodies queue up for seats in his L’Atelier restaurants, where they can watch chefs in action, perched on high stools at a U-shaped bar.
According to Le Figaro newspaper he died of cancer in the Swiss city of Geneva.
His death was confirmed by government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux in a tweet on Monday.
“Joel Robuchon, a visionary chef who was the most starred in the world, leaves us today,” Mr Griveaux wrote.
“From Paris to Shanghai, his savoir-faire was an art form that made French gastronomy shine and continues to inspire the next generation of chefs.”
As a youngster Robuchon’s first vocation was the priesthood but while cooking for other seminarians he discovered a passion for food and at 15 entered the restaurant trade.
A perfectionist from the start, he quickly earned a name for himself in the rarefied world of Nouvelle Cuisine and by the age of 30 was running a 90-strong kitchen at the Concorde Lafayette hotel in Paris.
The accolades and Michelin stars came thick and fast and by the age of 50, after working himself to the bone, he decided to retire.
But a few years later he was back in action with his Atelier concept, which was inspired by Japanese sushi counters and intended to be more affordable than traditional three-star eateries.
With AFP
