The Tragic Death Of Celebrity Chef Bernard Loiseau
As we have seen with beloved figures such as Anthony Bourdain, what may look like a picture-perfect life of fame and success from the outside isn't always what it cracks up to be. Such is the case with famed French chef Bernard Loiseau, who died by suicide in 2003, The New Yorker reported. By the age of 31, Loiseau had bought a once prestigious restaurant, La Côte d'Or in eastern France, with the goal of one day earning three Michelin stars, reveals a story on the History of Yesterday. Eventually, Loiseau was able to put the eatery back on the map, one star at a time.
In 1991, Loiseau was awarded his third Michelin star, something that most chefs can only dream of. Seven years later, he became the first chef to become a publicly-listed company on the stock market, per The New York Times. He was the epitome of success in the food world, owning multiple restaurants and known as one of the best chefs in a country that's synonymous with fine cuisine. Unfortunately, Loiseau's story took a turn for the worse.
Loiseau was reportedly unhappy with his restaurant's reviews
According to The Guardian, after the 52-year-old chef was found dead in his bedroom with a self-inflicted wound from his hunting rifle, his wife gave the explanation that he had worked too much and simply wore himself out. Jacques Lameloise, a fellow restaurateur, said that Loiseau had once told him that he would commit suicide if he were to lose the high ratings of his restaurant. And so it happened.
Though Loiseau was able to keep the three Michelin stars he had proudly achieved, his restaurant was downgraded by another French food guide called Gault et Millau in 2003, shortly before his death. The guide had removed two points from his restaurant, giving him a score of 17 out of 20, which renowned chef Paul Bocuse said ultimately "cost a man's life." A number of fellow chefs came forward to defend Loiseau's work, as well as government officials who publicly expressed their grief. Tragically, a family, a country, and the world had already lost an important creative figure.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).