Many might not know of Chef Robuchon. Tons went through his extremely arduous kitchen, in Paris. He was one of the most rigorous chefs producing French cuisine with a deep attention to classicism, but with modern technique and an eye to other palates as well. If Paul Bocuse, also recently left us, could be considered the successor chef to Fernand Point, to Escoffier himself, then I think it's fair to say Chef Robuchon succeeded Chef Bocuse for this era.
He was tough. Eric Ripert passed through his kitchen, and it broke him completely. But he walked away learning at a level nowhere else obtainable. Could be the last of his kind.
He walked away from the running of his eponymous restaurant when he saw what the life was doing to his friends and colleagues - killing them, young. Since Careme, it's known no one signs up for the life at the pinnacle of haute cuisine expecting a long life. Black, poisonous air, intense heat, murderous physical demands and a killing stress day in, day out, too many hours per day, are a deadly combination.
Chef Robuchon will almost inevitably be remembered for his....mashed potatoes. One finds that trite, or as profound as possible, depending on one's viewpoint. I learned an entire world from the techniques embodied in this simple side.
He was tough. Eric Ripert passed through his kitchen, and it broke him completely. But he walked away learning at a level nowhere else obtainable. Could be the last of his kind.
He walked away from the running of his eponymous restaurant when he saw what the life was doing to his friends and colleagues - killing them, young. Since Careme, it's known no one signs up for the life at the pinnacle of haute cuisine expecting a long life. Black, poisonous air, intense heat, murderous physical demands and a killing stress day in, day out, too many hours per day, are a deadly combination.
Chef Robuchon will almost inevitably be remembered for his....mashed potatoes. One finds that trite, or as profound as possible, depending on one's viewpoint. I learned an entire world from the techniques embodied in this simple side.