Alain Senderens
Alain Senderens | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 2, 1939 Hyères, Var, France |
| Died | June 25, 2017 (aged 77) Corrèze, France |
| Occupation | Chef |
| Known for | Pioneer of Nouvelle Cuisine; innovator in food and wine pairing |
Alain Senderens (2 December 1939 – 25 June 2017) was a prominent French chef renowned as a trailblazer in the realm of Nouvelle Cuisine. Le Figaro acknowledged him as a pioneer in the art of pairing food with wine.
Biography
Originating from Hyères, Var, France, Senderens completed his secondary education in Labatut-Rivière before undertaking an apprenticeship at the Ambassador Hotel located in Lourdes. His career in Paris included positions at esteemed establishments such as La Tour d'Argent and Lucas Carton, the latter of which he eventually purchased. Additionally, he held the role of sous-chef at a Hilton restaurant situated near Orly Airport.
In 1968, he launched L'Archestrate in Paris, managing it until 1985. The restaurant was awarded three Michelin stars in 1978. From 1985 to 2005, Senderens led the kitchen at Lucas Carton, which he later acquired and renamed Senderens. Upon reopening in 2005, he made history by voluntarily surrendering his three Michelin stars, explaining that maintaining Michelin’s criteria was incompatible with providing reasonably priced dining. This approach involved reducing prices by approximately two-thirds, resulting in a surge of patrons and nearly quadrupling profits. Despite this move, Michelin subsequently granted him two stars. In 2013, Senderens sold the establishment, which then reverted to its original name, Lucas Carton.
He passed away at his residence in Corrèze on 25 June 2017.
Influence
The New York Times described Senderens as an originator of Nouvelle Cuisine and a key figure in developing wine and food pairing practices. Working alongside sommelier Didier Bureau and collaborating with La Revue du vin de France, he enhanced the methodology of wine pairing. His mentorship shaped several distinguished chefs including Alain Passard, who transformed L'Archestrate into Arpège, Alain Solivérès of Taillevent, Christian Le Squer of Le Cinq, and Christopher Hache from Hôtel de Crillon.