Alain Senderens dies aged 77

French chef Alain Senderens, credited with being one of the founders of the Nouvelle Cuisine movement, has died aged 77.

 

The news emerged on the blog of French food critic Gilles Pudlowski who proclaimed him "one of the last great creators of Paris".

 

"This creator was a visionary… we won't forget you, dear Alain. We miss you already," he added.

 

Senderens, along with contemporaries like Paul Bocuse and Michel Guérard, helped move high-end French food away from heavy sauces towards lighter and more delicate dishes, with a greater emphasis on presentation.

 

Born in Hyères, Var, France in 1939, Senderens opened L'Archestrate in Paris in 1968, operating it until 1985. In 1978, the restaurant won three Michelin stars.

 

It later became L'Arpège under the chef who Pudlowski described as Senderens' greatest pupil, Alain Passard.

 

Senderens went on to be the chef at Lucas Carton from 1985 until 2005, when he took it over and renamed it Alain Senderens.

 

He handed back the three Michelin stars he had held for 28 years in 2005 when he relaunched the restaurant, adopting instead a simpler and less formal approach to dining.

 

News of Senderens' death prompted condolences on social media from chefs around the world, including Rene Redzepi and Arnaud Bignon:

 

RIP Alain Senderens - thank you for a life time of inspiration, always so elegant and classy as a person!t.co/N5T4xQhEWU

 

— Rene Redzepi (@ReneRedzepiNoma)

RIP Alain Senderens - thank you for a life time of inspiration, always so elegant and classy as a person!https://t.co/N5T4xQhEWU

— Rene Redzepi (@ReneRedzepiNoma) June 26, 2017

 

 

Very sad tonight to hear that Alain Senderens pass away.#alwaystoearly #alltogether #sadness t.co/xsGcanag2F

 

— Arnaud Bignon (@ArnaudBignon1) June 26, 2017

 

 

Senderens, Paris >>

 

Senderens is tired of stars >>

 

Senderens hands in Michelin stars after 28 years >>

 

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