Skip to comments.
Food critics blamed
for top chef's suicide
Ireland Online ^
| February 25, 2003
Posted on 02/25/2003 6:55:13 AM PST by Dog Gone
The suicide of famed chef Bernard Loiseau sent shock waves through France today and sparked condemnation from fellow culinary masters who accused the countrys all-powerful food critics of pushing him over the edge.
Loiseau, 52, was found dead in the bedroom of his home in Saulieu, near his three-star Cote dOr restaurant in Burgundy.
A rifle was found at his side. Staff and family members said he had committed suicide.
The news sent the gastronomic world into mourning and quickly sparked debate about the merits of restaurant guides rating systems which chefs await each year with bated breath.
Loiseau maintained his top rating of three stars in the 2003 edition of the benchmark Michelin Red Guide. However, he lost two points, going from 19 to 17, in the 20 point rating system of the GaultMillau. That guide has gained in prestige and power in recent years.
He said, If I lose a star, Ill kill myself, said another three-star chef, Jacques Lameloise, who has a restaurant in Chagny in the Saone-et-Loire region.
Paul Bocuse, who said he spoke with Loiseau three times a week, predicted that the chefs death would raise longer-term questions about the ratings system.
I am sure that Bernard was very affected by the loss of these two points. We should not allow ourselves to be manipulated like that I give you a star, I take one away, Bocuse said. These critics are like eunuchs: They know what to do but they cant do it.
He added: The profession is going to react.
Loiseaus widow, Dominique, said her husband had recently been very tired and had not taken a holiday in years.
Loiseau was an innovator in the world of gastronomy, the only French chef traded on the stock exchange. The shares were suspended until further notice today.
The chef also had a line of frozen foods, three restaurants in Paris and a boutique near his Cote dOr restaurant.
The Bernard Loiseau company said it would go on despite Loiseaus sudden death, with the various establishments shutting down only for the funeral, likely to be held Friday.
TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: culinary; france; frenchcuisine; suicide; toughfroglegs
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-76 next last
To: Nam Vet
LOL.....That was COLD! Just wait until next season for the premiere of the new reality show..."Chef's of the Antarctic." Probably won't last long though.. there are only so many ways to prepare penguin.
21
posted on
02/25/2003 7:27:42 AM PST
by
Focault's Pendulum
(I just bought the Maginot Line on E Bay.)
To: Dog Gone
How unbelievably silly a thing to kill oneself over. Get a grip dude, its just food. Who care's what a critic thinks.
On second thought maybe this could be traslated into movie reviews over here. Can we convince Baldwin and Streisand to DO IT, if they tank in the reviews? Just a thought.
To: small voice in the wilderness
They get them from the French Army.
They've never been fired, and only dropped once.
L
23
posted on
02/25/2003 7:31:28 AM PST
by
Lurker
(When I want your opinion, I'll beat it out of you.)
To: Lurker
Okay, I'll say it... "Can't stand the heat? Stay outta the kitchen!"
To: small voice in the wilderness
They're only effective at close range.
25
posted on
02/25/2003 7:33:39 AM PST
by
js1138
To: Dog Gone
Ever see
Theatre of Blood?
--Boris
26
posted on
02/25/2003 7:33:48 AM PST
by
boris
To: Dog Gone
The ultimate cheese eating surrender.
27
posted on
02/25/2003 7:33:49 AM PST
by
buccaneer81
(Plus de fromage, s'il vous plait...)
To: SamAdams76
You failed to mention French Vanilla Ice Cream and French's mustard. (There's apparently a lot more to French cuisine than you're aware.)
To: small voice in the wilderness
The French hunt deer! And with some really big rifles.
They drive the deer with beaters and then use someting like a .300 Win mag to take a shot at a RUNNING deer within 40yd or so. I read about this somewhere and it does sound crazy.
Afterwards they lay out one hell of a lunch on camp tables.
29
posted on
02/25/2003 7:37:42 AM PST
by
SBprone
To: Dog Gone
Food critics blamed for top chef's suicideLucky they didn't mention the dirty knife...
30
posted on
02/25/2003 7:39:48 AM PST
by
dirtboy
To: Dog Gone
He couldn't take the heat so he got out of the kitchen.
31
posted on
02/25/2003 7:40:50 AM PST
by
Spruce
To: dirtboy
Excellent.
32
posted on
02/25/2003 7:43:58 AM PST
by
Petronski
(I'm not always cranky.)
To: Petronski
Yep, once again, life imitates Python...
33
posted on
02/25/2003 7:45:35 AM PST
by
dirtboy
To: WilliamWallace1999
"Who care's what a critic thinks."
Exactly, Mark Twain used to send his critics stick pins with a little gold beetle on the head. He called them the 'Golden Tumblebug Award'.
"In your honor Sir. As a reminder that as with critics, the tumblebug is one of the few creatures God made that must lay it's eggs in the excrement of another in order for them to hatch."
To: Dog Gone
The whole country has lost 2 stars in my book. Maybe they'll all follow this courageous leader's example.
To: mewzilla
Yeah, but we are talking about the French here...
I'm surprised a Frenchman even knew how to pull a trigger.
36
posted on
02/25/2003 7:48:10 AM PST
by
ErnBatavia
((Bumperootus!))
To: Dog Gone
I don't know about the rest of you guys, but as far as I'm concerned, the loss of a world-class chef is a loss to humanity. Every household should have at least one.
37
posted on
02/25/2003 7:49:20 AM PST
by
1rudeboy
To: ErnBatavia
I'm surprised a Frenchman even knew how to pull a trigger.Actually, the chef thought he was aiming at a critic but had the gun pointed backwards...
38
posted on
02/25/2003 7:51:46 AM PST
by
dirtboy
To: Dog Gone; dighton; general_re; aculeus; babylonian
Killed by the competition.
To: Dog Gone
"If I lose a star, I'll kill myself."
Wow. Talk about a type A personality.
40
posted on
02/25/2003 8:01:15 AM PST
by
ricpic
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-76 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson