- Renowned French culinary figure Michel Guérard passed away.
Renowned French cook Michel Guérard has bid farewell at the ripe age of 91, as announced by French news agency AFP this morning. He was a trailblazer within the Nouvelle Cuisine movement, which aimed to revitalize French cooking in the 1970s and introduced lighter options over extravagance. Guérard furthered the cause of dietary cuisine, with a cooking school advocating for healthy eating now carrying his namesake.
Guérard entered this world on March 27, 1933, in a picturesque town situated approximately 60 kilometers from Paris. Born to a butcher, Guérard's culinary journey began by apprenticing as a pastry chef in 1950. At the tender age of 25, he was recognized as France's top pastry chef. Following his successful stint supplying his delicacies to prominent Parisian venues, he established Pot-au-feu, a restaurant near Paris, in 1965. Later on, he relocated to southwestern France, where Les Prés d'Eugénie, his restaurant, has retained three Michelin stars since 1977.
Guérard's namesake cooking school, dedicated to promoting healthy eating and dietary cuisine, offers a variety of food and beverage workshops. Throughout his career, Guérard's innovative approach to cooking led to the creation of lighter options within the food and beverage industry, aligning with the Nouvelle Cuisine movement.
