Food critics blamed for top chef's suicide

Ireland Online ^ | February 25, 2003

[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 country’s 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 d’Or 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, I’ll 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 chef’s 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 can’t do it.”

He added: “The profession is going to react.”

Loiseau’s 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 d’Or” restaurant.

The Bernard Loiseau company said it would go on despite Loiseau’s “sudden” death, with the various establishments shutting down only for the funeral, likely to be held Friday.

[Focault's Pendulum]

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.

[WilliamWallace1999]

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.

[Lurker]

They get them from the French Army.

They've never been fired, and only dropped once.

L

[RoughDobermann]

Okay, I'll say it... "Can't stand the heat? Stay outta the kitchen!"

[js1138]

They're only effective at close range.

[boris]

Ever see Theatre of Blood?

--Boris

[buccaneer81]

The ultimate cheese eating surrender.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

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.)

[SBprone]

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.

[dirtboy]

Food critics blamed for top chef's suicide

Lucky they didn't mention the dirty knife...

[Spruce]

He couldn't take the heat so he got out of the kitchen.

[Petronski]

Excellent.

[dirtboy]

Yep, once again, life imitates Python...

[Lee Heggy]

"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."

[Republic of Texas]

The whole country has lost 2 stars in my book. Maybe they'll all follow this courageous leader's example.

[ErnBatavia]

Yeah, but we are talking about the French here...

I'm surprised a Frenchman even knew how to pull a trigger.

[1rudeboy]

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.

[dirtboy]

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...

[Thinkin' Gal]

Killed by the competition.

[ricpic]

"If I lose a star, I'll kill myself."


Wow. Talk about a type A personality.