Eric Ripert
Eric Ripert | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 2, 1965 Antibes, France |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, author, television host |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Known for | Executive chef of Le Bernardin, PBS series Avec Eric |
Eric Ripert (; born March 2, 1965) is a renowned French chef, author, and television host known for his expertise in contemporary French cuisine, with a particular emphasis on seafood.
His premier establishment, Le Bernardin, situated in Midtown Manhattan, New York, enjoys global recognition and frequently appears among the top-ranked restaurants worldwide. Since 2022, it has occupied the premier position on "La Liste". The venue has upheld a four-star rating from The New York Times for more than thirty years and holds three stars from the prestigious Michelin Guide.
Early life and education
Born in Antibes, France, Ripert acquired his initial culinary skills from his mother. Following his parents' separation, he relocated with his mother to Andorra, where he spent his formative years. His father passed away in a hiking accident when Ripert was eleven. At the age of fifteen, he departed home to pursue formal culinary training at a school in Perpignan, France.
Culinary career
At seventeen, Ripert began a two-year tenure at La Tour d'Argent in Paris before moving to Jamin under the guidance of Joël Robuchon, where he rose to Assistant Chef de Partie. After completing military service in 1985, he returned to Jamin as Chef Poissonier. In 1989, Ripert took on the role of sous chef at the Jean Louis Palladin restaurant within Washington, D.C.'s Watergate Hotel. Two years later, he joined Le Bernardin in New York City and was promoted to executive chef in 1994 following Gilbert Le Coze's passing. By 1995, at just 29 years old, Ripert secured a four-star review from The New York Times and became a partial owner of Le Bernardin in 1996.
In 2006, Le Bernardin earned three Michelin stars and sustained four stars from The New York Times across six consecutive evaluations—an unmatched record for consistent excellence. Ripert has firmly positioned himself as a prominent leader within the international fine dining community. In 2014, alongside Maguy Le Coze, he launched Aldo Sohm Wine Bar and enhanced Le Bernardin’s private dining offerings with Le Bernardin Privé.
Media career
Ripert has served as both guest judge and assistant chef throughout several seasons of Bravo TV's Top Chef. His television appearances extend to programs such as A Cook's Tour, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, and Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. His own series, Avec Eric, premiered on PBS in 2009, running for two seasons and earning two Daytime Emmy Awards. The show returned for a third season on the Cooking Channel in 2015 and is accessible via iTunes and Netflix.
He created "Get Toasted," an online video series dedicated to quick recipes prepared using a toaster oven. In 2010, Ripert portrayed himself on HBO’s Treme during its first two seasons. Additionally, he appeared in Netflix's Chef's Table (2017), featuring chef Jeong Kwan.
Books
Ripert released Vegetable Simple (2021) and Seafood Simple (2023), both of which quickly became New York Times best sellers. His earlier publications include the 2014 title My Best: Eric Ripert (Alain Ducasse Publishing) and his 2016 memoir 32 Yolks: From My Mother's Table to Working the Line (Random House), each achieving best-seller status.
Prior works encompass On the Line (2008) and A Return to Cooking (2002), created in collaboration with photographers Shimon and Tammar Rothstein, artist Valentino Cortazar, and writer Michael Ruhlman; this book was highlighted by Newsweek as a leading seasonal cookbook. Ripert’s initial cookbook, Le Bernardin – Four Star Simplicity, debuted in 1998.
Philanthropic involvement
Eric Ripert holds the position of vice chairman at City Harvest, the largest food recovery organization in New York City. For the past three years, he has been the host of the Tibetan Aid Project’s annual Taste & Tribute New York fundraising dinner at Le Bernardin. This event aids in the preservation and restoration of Tibetan-language manuscripts throughout the Himalayan region, enabling the distribution of close to two million traditional Buddhist texts—ranking among the most extensive free book distributions ever conducted.
Publications
- Le Bernardin Cookbook (co-written with Maguy Le Coze), 1998
- A Return to Cooking (co-written with Michael Ruhlman), 2002
- On the Line: The Stations, the Heat, the Cooks, the Costs, the Chaos, and the Triumphs (co-written with Christine Muhlke), 2008
- Avec Eric: A Culinary Journey with Eric Ripert, 2010
- My Best: Eric Ripert, 2014
- 32 Yolks: From My Mother's Table to Working the Line (with Veronica Chambers), 2016
- Vegetable Simple, 2021
- Seafood Simple, 2023
Honors and distinctions
- Ranked #1 Restaurant Worldwide by La Liste (2018, 2022–present)
- Awarded four stars by The New York Times since 1995
- Holder of three Michelin stars since 2005
- Included in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list since 2006
- Forbes All-Star Eateries: Four-star rating since 2000
- Recipient of AAA Five Diamond Award from 2013 onward
- Michelin Guide Mentor Chef Award recipient in 2022
- Named "Best Restaurant in America" by GQ in 1997
- Recognized for "Best Food in New York City" by Zagat from 2000 to 2007
- Multiple accolades from the James Beard Foundation, including Outstanding Restaurant of the Year (1998) and Outstanding Chef of the Year (2003)
Personal background
Eric Ripert and his wife Sandra (née Nieves) are parents to a son. A practicing Buddhist, Ripert dedicates an hour each morning to meditation.
He shared a close friendship with chef Anthony Bourdain. Ripert’s introduction to Bourdain came through reading Bourdain’s 2000 book Kitchen Confidential, which was his first English-language read and sparked their connection. Their initial television collaboration occurred on A Cook's Tour in 2002. Bourdain showcased Le Bernardin on No Reservations, where Ripert frequently appeared as a guest, and also featured him on Parts Unknown. Bourdain was a supporter of Ripert’s literary pursuits, while Ripert introduced Bourdain to his second wife, Ottavia Busia. In June 2018, Ripert was present with Bourdain in France during filming of Parts Unknown when he discovered him unresponsive; Bourdain’s death was subsequently ruled a suicide. To honor his late friend, Ripert publicly paid tribute and collaborated with chef José Andrés to establish June 25—Bourdain’s birthday—as Bourdain Day in 2020.