Georges Blanc
Georges Blanc | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 2, 1943 Bourg-en-Bresse, Ain, France |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, restaurateur |
| Known for | Two Michelin stars, four toques from Gault et Millau |
Georges Blanc (born 2 January 1943 in Bourg-en-Bresse, Ain, France) is a distinguished French chef and restaurateur, honored with two Michelin stars and awarded four toques by the Gault et Millau guide.
Private life
Georges is the son of Jean and Paulette Blanc and has an elder sister born in 1933. His grandmother Élisa, affectionately called Mere Blanc, died at the age of 66 in Vonnas. His two sons, Frédéric and Alexandre Blanc, are actively involved in managing the family enterprise.
Career
After completing his studies at the École Hôtelière of Thonon-les-Bains in Haute-Savoie in 1962, Blanc initially worked as a flight attendant for Air France before shifting his focus to cuisine. Following his military service as a chef aboard the aircraft carriers Foch and Clémenceau, he assumed control of the family business in 1968 at just 25 years old. He elevated the establishment into a luxury hotel and developed surrounding properties into a gourmet village.
In 1970, Blanc secured third place in France’s best sommelier competition and was a finalist for the Meilleur Ouvrier de France title in 1976. He achieved his third Michelin star in 1981 and was honored as Chef of the Year by Gault et Millau, receiving an exceptional rating of 19.5/20 in 1985.
Blanc expanded his ventures in 1990 by acquiring the Charvet-Guyennet café-gastronomy-bakery to establish Ancienne Auberge. He also developed seventeen houses near his restaurant in Vonnas, creating what is known as the "village gourmand." This project includes hotels, dining establishments, retail outlets, and spas within a historically inspired village that prioritizes sustainability across roughly 12 acres.
In 2025, Georges Blanc’s main restaurant experienced a reduction in its Michelin rating, losing one star and now holding two stars.
Television
Together with Cyril Lignac, he acts as a jury member on Un dîner vraiment parfait, a spin-off of Un dîner presque parfait (the French adaptation of Come Dine with Me), which airs on M6.
Honours
- Commander of the Legion of Honour (11 July 2008)
- Officer of the National Order of Merit (2 August 1993)
- Commander of the Ordre du Mérite Agricole (1993)
- Knight (Chevalier) of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques (2002)
- Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2004)