Joël Robuchon

Joël Robuchon

Joël Robuchon, September 2010
Born 7 April 1945
Poitiers, France

Culinary career

Website
www.joel-robuchon.net

Joël Robuchon (born 7 April 1945 in Poitiers, France) is a French chef and restaurateur. He was titled "Chef of the Century" by the guide Gault Millau in 1989[1] and also awarded the Meilleur Ouvrier de France (France's Best Craftsman) in cuisine in 1976. He has published several cookbooks in French, two of which have been translated into English, has chaired the committee for the current edition of the Larousse Gastronomique, and has hosted culinary television shows in France.[2][3] He operates a dozen restaurants in Bangkok, Bordeaux, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, London, Macau, Monaco, Paris, Singapore, Taipei, and Tokyo, with a total of 25 Michelin Guide stars among them – the most of any chef in the world.[4][5]

Biography

Robuchon was born in Poitiers, France as one of four children. He worked as a cook in the Mauléon-sur-Sèvre seminary in the Deux-Sèvres. At the age of 15 (1960/61), he became an apprentice chef at the Relais of Poitiers hotel, starting off as a pastry chef. In 1966, Robuchon became the official chef of Le Tour de France namely "Compagnon du Tour de France", enabling him to travel throughout the country, learning a variety of diverse regional techniques. At 28 (1973/74), he was appointed as head chef at the hotel Concorde-Lafayette. At 31 (1976/77), he won the Meilleur Ouvrier de France for his craftsmanship in Culinary Arts.[6] In 1989, he was awarded "Chef of the Century" by Gault Millau. He later started his own restaurant in Paris called Jamin.[7] He has mentored Gordon Ramsay,[8] Eric Ripert and Michael Caines.

Seeing many of his peers die of stress and heart attacks, Robuchon retired at the age of 50 in 1995. He subsequently staged a comeback, opening several restaurants bearing his name around the world. He hosted Cuisinez comme un grand chef on TF1 from 1996 to 1999; in 2000, he hosted Bon appétit bien sûr on France 3. Through his various restaurants, he has now accumulated a total of 28 Michelin Guide stars – the most of any chef in the world.[4]

Robuchon was the most influential French chef of the post-nouvelle cuisine era. Since the mid-1980s, he has been called the primus inter pares of Paris' three star chefs for his work both at Jamin and at his eponymous restaurant.[9]

He was known for the relentless perfectionism of his cuisine; he says there is no such thing as the perfect meal – one can always do better. He was instrumental in leading French cuisine away from the excesses—and excessive reductionism—of nouvelle cuisine. In particular, his cuisine was seen as harking back to a more authentic, even bourgeois French cuisine—the "cuisine actuelle" of Patricia Wells' book (re-published as "Simply French") which focused on making each ingredient taste of itself. Drawing his inspiration firstly from the simplicity of cuisine, he led the way in creating a more delicate style respectful of natural food ingredients.

Like many famous chefs in France, he is an avowed Freemason,[10] namely the Grande Loge Nationale Française.[11]

Restaurants

Robuchon's restaurants in Tokyo are located in the Château of the Yebisu Garden Place.

Awards

Cookbooks

See also

References

  1. ↑ Leuzzi, Jennifer (9 August 2006). "A Top Chef Arrives in New York (Finally)". The New York Sun. Retrieved 25 November 2007.
  2. ↑ "Chefs Around the World" (PDF). Travel International. Spring 2005. p. 28.
  3. ↑ "L'Atelier of Joel Robuchon: The Artistry of a Master Chef and His Proteges". Wiley & Sons. Retrieved 25 November 2007.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ng Kai Ling (20 October 2010). "Local flavour, world-class food". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  5. ↑ Masterchef: The Professionals 2010 (Episode 16)
  6. ↑ "Liste des lauréats du concours de Meilleur Ouvrier de France, Classe Cuisine" (in French). Meilleur Ouvrier de France - Cuisine official website. Retrieved 25 November 2007.
  7. ↑ Piano ma non solo, Jean-Pierre Thiollet, Anagramme Ed., 2012, p. 111
  8. ↑ CNN showcases london fashion week, Business Ghana 7 October 2010
  9. ↑ MacDonogh, Giles (8 May 1995). "Star performance - Giles MacDonogh takes a fresh look at the culinary capital of the world and assesses the city's top eight restaurants". Financial Times Guide to Eating Out In Paris. p. 3.
  10. ↑ Interview to L'Express
  11. ↑ Institut Civitas, excerpt from Lectures Françaises n. 560-561, quoting Le Figaro's 21 June 2003 article from Maurice Beaudoin : « Joël Robuchon : franc-maçon et fier de l'être »
  12. ↑ YourSingapore.com - L’Atelier de Joël
  13. ↑ Stevens, Muriel (2007). "Dining, Joël Robuchon". VEGAS.com. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  14. ↑ Kühn, Kerstin (12 November 2007). "Joël Robuchon's Las Vegas restaurant debuts with three Michelin stars". caterer search. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  15. ↑ MGM Grand awards http://www.mgmgrand.com/press_room/press_room_awards.aspx

External links