Joël Robuchon
Joël Robuchon | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 April 1945 Poitiers, France |
| Died | 6 August 2018 (aged 73) |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, television presenter |
| Known for | "Chef of the Century" (Gault Millau 1989), holder of 31 Michelin stars |
Joël Robuchon (, 7 April 1945 – 6 August 2018) was a distinguished French chef and restaurateur. In 1989, the guide Gault Millau honored him with the title "Chef of the Century." He was awarded the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France in cuisine in 1976. Robuchon authored numerous cookbooks, two of which were translated into English, led the editorial board for the Larousse Gastronomique, and presented culinary television programs in France.
His culinary empire spanned over a dozen restaurants worldwide, with venues in cities such as Bangkok, Bordeaux, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, London, Macau, Madrid, Monaco, Montreal, Paris, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, and New York City. By 2018, his restaurants collectively held an unprecedented total of 31 Michelin Guide stars—the highest number ever awarded to a single restaurateur. Robuchon is widely regarded as one of the most influential chefs in history.
Biography
Born in 1945 in Poitiers, France, Robuchon was one of four siblings in a family headed by a bricklayer. Initially contemplating a religious vocation, he shifted direction at age 15 to begin an apprenticeship as a pastry chef at Relais de Poitiers. Upon reaching 21, he joined the apprenticeship program Compagnons du Tour de France, traveling throughout France to master regional culinary methods. At 29 years old, he assumed the role of head chef at the Hôtel Concorde La Fayette, overseeing a team of 90 kitchen staff. His culinary expertise earned him the Meilleur Ouvrier de France award in 1976. While serving as Executive Chef and Food and Beverage director at the Nikko Hotels in Paris, he secured two Michelin stars.
Robuchon launched his own establishment, Jamin, in 1981. Within three years, it achieved three Michelin stars. In 1984, the International Herald Tribune recognized Jamin as the "Best Restaurant in the World." From 1987 to 1990, he frequently appeared on French television cooking programs.
The year 1989 saw Gault Millau bestow upon him the title "Chef of the Century." He also played a pivotal role in mentoring future culinary stars including Gordon Ramsay, Eric Ripert, and Michael Caines.
After retiring in 1995 at age 50 due to health concerns observed among his contemporaries, Robuchon later re-emerged to establish numerous restaurants internationally under his brand. He hosted TV shows on TF1 and France 3 and amassed a record-breaking total of 31 Michelin stars across his venues, including a three-star restaurant located in Singapore.
In June 2018, Resorts World Singapore announced it would close both the three-Michelin-starred Joel Robuchon Restaurant and the two-starred L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon.
Robuchon was affiliated with the Grande Loge Nationale Française Freemasons; however, he clarified that this association did not influence his professional path.
He passed away on 6 August 2018 at age 73 due to cancer, having undergone treatment for pancreatic cancer one year prior.
Personal life
In 1966, Robuchon married Jeanine. The couple had two children: Eric Robuchon, who works as a pedicurist and podiatrist in Paris; and Sophie Kartheiser, who co-manages La Cour d'Eymet restaurant in Dordogne alongside her husband, chef François Kartheiser. Additionally, he had a son named Louis Robuchon-Abe (born 1988), who is engaged in wine importing based in Japan. At his passing, Robuchon left behind his wife, three children, and four grandchildren.
Legacy
Robuchon is widely acknowledged as the foremost French chef following the nouvelle cuisine movement. From the mid-1980s onward, he has been considered the primus inter pares among Parisian chefs awarded three Michelin stars, largely due to his achievements at Jamin and his own branded establishments.
Renowned for his unwavering pursuit of excellence, Robuchon maintained that every dish could be further refined. He revolutionized French gastronomy by moving beyond the simplicity of nouvelle cuisine, integrating global influences—particularly from Japanese culinary traditions—and select elements of haute cuisine. His culinary philosophy focused on highlighting the natural virtues of high-quality, seasonal produce, a style often termed "cuisine actuelle." Inspired by the minimalist elegance of Japanese cooking, he developed a refined approach that honored the authentic flavors of ingredients.
Restaurants
Joël Robuchon manages an extensive international portfolio of dining venues:[1]
- Asia
- Dubai – L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon[2], Le Deli Robuchon, La Méditerranée Robuchon
- Hong Kong – L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (3 Michelin stars), Salon de Thé de Joël Robuchon
- Macau – Robuchon au Dôme (3 Michelin stars) located in the Grand Lisboa Hotel
- Taipei – L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (2 Michelin stars), Salon de Thé de Joël Robuchon
- Tokyo – L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (1 Michelin star), La Table de Joël Robuchon (2 Michelin stars), Le Chateau de Joël Robuchon (3 Michelin stars)
- North Africa
- Rabat – Le Clubhouse Robuchon, Le Café Robuchon, Le Grill Robuchon
- Casablanca – Le Deli Robuchon, La Boulangerie Robuchon
- Europe
- Geneva – L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (2 Michelin stars)
- London – Le Deli Robuchon Piccadilly, Le Deli Robuchon King's Road
- Monaco – Le Deli Robuchon, Le Café Robuchon
- Paris – L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon Étoile (1 Michelin star), L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (2 Michelin stars)
- Madrid – Robuchon Madrid
- Cyprus – Le Deli Robuchon, L'Atelier Robuchon
- America
- Las Vegas – Joël Robuchon, L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon
- Miami – L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (2 Michelin stars)[3]
- St Barths – L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Le Daily Robuchon
Previous locations include Bangkok, Singapore, Montreal, and New York City.
Michelin-starred restaurants linked to Joël Robuchon and their peak ratings
| No. | Name | Country | Rating |
|---|
| "L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (Tokyo)" | (Japan) | Template:Center |
|---|---|---|
| "La Table de Joël Robuchon (Tokyo)" | (Japan) | Template:Center |
| "L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (Singapore)" | (Singapore) | Template:Center |
| "Joël Robuchon (Monte-Carlo)" | (Monaco) | Template:Center |
| "L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (Taiwan)" | (Taiwan) | Template:Center |
| "L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (Geneva)" | (Switzerland) | Template:Center |
| "L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (Shanghai)" | (China) | Template:Center |
Awards
- Recognized as Best French Restaurant and Best Chef in Las Vegas by Las Vegas Life International Epicurean Awards
- Featured among "Hot Tables" by CondeNast Traveller
- Recipient of the Five-Star Award from the Forbes Travel Guide during 2006–2011
- Honored as Best French Restaurant in Las Vegas from 2006 to 2010 by the Hotel Concierge Association
- Awarded the Laurent Perrier Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 at The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants
Cookbooks
Joël Robuchon authored a wide range of cookbooks available in both French and English, such as:
- Simply French: Patricia Wells Presents the Cuisine of Joel Robuchon
- Tout Robuchon (translated as The Complete Robuchon)
- Joël Robuchon Cooking Through the Seasons
- La Cuisine de Joël Robuchon: A Seasonal Cookbook
- L'Atelier of Joël Robuchon: The Artistry of a Master Chef and His Protégés
- Le Grand Larousse Gastronomique
- Food and Life
- My Best: Joël Robuchon
- Grand Livre de Cuisine de Joël Robuchon
- French Regional Food
- Robuchon Facile
- Le Meilleur & Le Plus Simple de Robuchon: 130 recettes
- Le Meilleur & Le Plus Simple de la France: 130 recettes
- Le Meilleur & Le Plus Simple de la pomme de terre: 100 recettes
- Ma Cuisine Pour Vous
- Cuisine des Quatre Saisons
- Larousse Vegetables & Salads
- Emotions Gourmandes
- Les Dimanches de Joël Robuchon
- Il Grande Libro di Cucina di Joël Robuchon
- Best of Joel Robuchon
- Bon Appétit Bien Sûr: 150 recettes à faire à la maison
See also
External links
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- Pages with broken file links
- 1945 births
- 2018 deaths
- People from Poitiers
- French Freemasons
- French chefs
- Officers of the Legion of Honour
- Officiers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
- Officers of the Ordre national du Mérite
- Commanders of the Order of Agricultural Merit
- Head chefs of Michelin-starred restaurants
- French restaurateurs