Chef Joël Robuchon, the most decorated Michelin chef in history, passed away today in Geneva, Switzerland. The chef died from cancer. He was 73.
Robuchon ran gourmet restaurants around the globe including Bangkok, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, Paris, Monaco, and Bordeaux. Furthermore, his restaurant portfolio boasts of 32 Michelin stars across 13 countries.
As a matter of fact, the world-renowned chef was the mentor of English chef, Gordon Ramsey. Similar to most famous French chefs, he is also a Freemason, particularly the Grande Loge Nationale Française. In 2009, he was awarded The Laurent Perrier 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award at The S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
In 1990, the Gault et Millau cooking guide called Robuchon a “chef of the century”. Known for his mashed potato dishes, the world famous chef’s signature style involved using as few ingredients as possible. According to him, this makes each food item “express themselves most articulately”.
Chef Robuchon led a more authentic approach to French cuisine, making it less excessive and more delicate. And this, according to food critics, is an essential characteristic of bourgeois French cuisine. Food that is not only simple, but also respectful of each ingredient’s natural flavors.
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