Raymond Oliver
Raymond Oliver | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Langon, France |
| Died | November 5, 1990 (aged 81) |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, restaurateur, television presenter |
| Known for | Proprietor of Le Grand Véfour, host of Art et magie de la cuisine |
Raymond Oliver (27 March 1909 – 5 November 1990) was a distinguished French chef and proprietor of Le Grand Véfour, a renowned historic dining establishment in Paris. He favored the hearty, traditional flavors of his Gascon heritage over the then-emerging nouvelle cuisine style.
Hailing from Langon near Bordeaux, Oliver was raised in a family deeply rooted in culinary arts. His initial lessons in cooking came from his maternal grandmother, and by the age of 15, he was apprenticing with his father.
For more than three and a half decades, Oliver presided over Le Grand Véfour located on Rue de Beaujolais within the Palais-Royal area. His distinguished guests included prominent figures such as Winston Churchill and André Malraux; literary icons Albert Camus and Georges Simenon; influential businessmen Henry Ford and David Rockefeller; as well as royalty including the Aga Khan and Monaco’s Prince Rainier with Princess Grace. Esteemed artists like Jean Cocteau and Colette also frequented his establishment.
During the Second World War, Oliver operated a hotel in the French Alps, led a Resistance group, and provided refuge to an eleven-member American bomber crew until liberation, for which he received honors from General Eisenhower. In 1948, he took ownership of Le Grand Véfour, guiding it to achieve its third Michelin star six years later—a rare accolade during that era.
In 1967, Oliver published the technical culinary guide La Cuisine and became the host of the television program Art et magie de la cuisine. Additionally, he served as one of eleven judges at the famed Judgment of Paris wine tasting event.
See also
- List of wine personalities
- The Gentleman from Epsom (film, 1962)