Joël Robuchon (French pronunciation: ​[ʒɔɛl ʁobyʃɔ̃], 7 April 1945 – 6 August 2018) was a French chef and restaurateur. He was named "Chef of the Century" by the guide Gault Millau in 1989, and awarded the Meilleur Ouvrier de France (France's best worker) in cuisine in 1976. He published several cookbooks, two of which have been translated into English, chaired the committee for the Larousse Gastronomique, and hosted culinary television shows in France. He operated a dozen restaurants in Bangkok, Bordeaux, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, London, Macau, Monaco, Montreal, Paris, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, and New York City, with a total of 32 Michelin Guide stars among them, the most of any chef in the world.

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Biography

In 1945, Robuchon was born in Poitiers, France, one of four children. He worked as a cook in the Châtillon-sur-Sèvre seminary in the Deux-Sèvres. (currently Mauléoniste)

In 1960, at the age of 15, he became an apprentice chef at the Relais of Poitiers hotel, starting as a pastry chef.

In 1966, at the age of 21, he joined the apprenticeship "Compagnon du Tour de France", enabling him to travel throughout the country, learning a variety of regional techniques.

In 1974, at the age of 29, Robuchon was appointed as head chef at the Hôtel Concorde La Fayette.

In 1976, at the age of 31, he won the Meilleur Ouvrier de France for his craftsmanship in culinary arts.

From 1987 to 1990, he was regularly invited on French TV ("Quand c'est bon ?... Il n'y a pas meilleur !", FR3, with François Roboth as moderator.

In 1989, Robuchon was called "Chef of the Century" by Gault Millau. He later started his own restaurant in Paris called Jamin. He mentored Gordon Ramsay, Eric Ripert, and Michael Caines.

In 1995, seeing many of his peers die of stress and heart attacks, Robuchon retired at the age of 50. He subsequently staged a comeback, opening several restaurants bearing his name around the world. He hosted Cuisinez comme un grand chef on TF1 from 1996 to 1999; in 2000, he hosted Bon appétit bien sûron France 3. Through his various restaurants, including the newly awarded 3-star rating for his restaurant in Singapore, he accumulated a total of 32 Michelin Guide stars – the most of any chef in the world.

In June 2018, Resort World Singapore stated that both the three-Michelin-starred Joel Robuchon Restaurant and the two-starred L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon would close at the end of the month.

Robuchon died from cancer on 6 August, 2018, a year after receiving treatment for a pancreatic tumour. He was 73.

Legacy

Robuchon has been the most influential French chef of the post-nouvelle cuisine era. Since the mid-1980s, he has been called the primus inter pares of Paris' three star chefs for his work both at Jamin and at his eponymous restaurant.

Robuchon has been known for the relentless perfectionism of his cuisine; he says there is no such thing as the perfect meal – one can always do better. He was instrumental in leading French cuisine away from the excesses—and excessive reductionism—of nouvelle cuisine. In particular, his cuisine was seen as harking back to a more authentic, even bourgeois French cuisine—the "cuisine actuelle" of Patricia Wells' book (re-published as "Simply French"), which focused on making each ingredient taste of itself. Drawing his inspiration firstly from the simplicity of cuisine, he led the way in creating a more delicate style respectful of natural food ingredients.

As with many famous chefs in France, Robuchon was an avowed Freemason, namely the Grande Loge Nationale Française.

Restaurants

• Asia
  • Bangkok - L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (1 Michelin star)
  • Hong Kong - L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (3 Michelin stars), Salon de Thé de Joël Robuchon
  • Macau - Robuchon au Dôme (3 Michelin stars)
  • Shanghai - L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (2 Michelin stars), Salon de Thé de Joël Robuchon
  • Singapore - L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (2 Michelin stars), Restaurant de Joël Robuchon (3 Michelin stars)
  • Taipei - L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (1 Michelin star), Salon de Thé de Joël Robuchon
  • Tokyo - L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (2 Michelin stars), La Table de Joël Robuchon (2 Michelin stars), Le Chateau de Joël Robuchon (3 Michelin stars)
• Europe
  • Bordeaux - La Grande Maison de Joël Robuchon
  • London - L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (1 Michelin star), La Cuisine de Joël Robuchon (1 Michelin star)
  • Monaco - Restaurant de Joël Robuchon (2 Michelin stars), Yoshi (1 Michelin star)
  • Paris - L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (2 Michelin stars), La Table de Joël Robuchon (2 Michelin stars)
• North America
  • Las Vegas - L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (1 Michelin star), Joël Robuchon (3 Michelin stars)
  • Montreal - L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon
  • New York City - L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Le Grill de Joël Robuchon

Awards

• Best French Restaurant, Best Chef in Las Vegas, Las Vegas Life International Epicurean Awards
• Rated "3 Stars", Las Vegas Michelin Guide
• "Hot Tables", CondeNast Traveller
• Five-Star Award, 2006-2011 Forbes Travel Guide
• Best French Restaurant in Las Vegas, 2006–2010, Hotel Concierge Association.
• The Laurent Perrier 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award at The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants 2009

Cookbooks

Robuchon has published numerous cookbooks in French and English, some of which are:

• Simply French: Patricia Wells Presents the Cuisine of Joel Robuchon
• Tout Robuchon (published as The Complete Robuchon in English)
• 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