View source for Alain Ducasse

{{Short description|French chef}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox chef <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox chef/doc]] -->
| image = Alain Ducasse.jpg
| name = Alain Ducasse
|  caption = Alain at Identità Golose Conference 2010
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1956|9|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Orthez]], France
| death_date  = 
| death_place = 
| style =[[French cuisine]]
| education =
| ratings = [[Michelin star]]s {{Michelinstar|3}}<br /> [[AA Rosette]]s {{Rating|4|5}}
| restaurants = [[Le Louis XV (restaurant)|Le Louis XV]] {{Michelinstar|3}}<br />[[Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester]] {{Michelinstar|3}}<br /> Alain Ducasse at Morpheus {{Michelinstar|2}}<br /> Restaurant Le Meurice Alain Ducasse {{Michelinstar|2}}<br /> MUNI Alain Ducasse {{Michelinstar|1|3}}<br /> BEIGE Alain Ducasse {{Michelinstar|1}}<br /> Blue by Alain Ducasse {{Michelinstar|1}}<br /> IDAM by Alain Ducasse {{Michelinstar|1}}<br /> La Bastide de Moustiers {{Michelinstar|1|3}}<br /> ESTERRE by Alain Ducasse {{Michelinstar|1|3}}<br /> Ducasse au Château de Versailles - Le Grand Contrôle {{Michelinstar|1|3}}     
| television =
| awards =
| website = {{url|alain-ducasse.com}}
}}
'''Alain Ducasse''' ({{IPA|fr|alɛ̃ dykas|lang}}; born 13 September 1956) is a French-born [[Monaco|Monégasque]] chef. He operates a number of restaurants, including [[Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester]], which holds three stars (the top rating) in the [[Michelin Guide]].

==Early life and career==
Ducasse was born in [[Orthez]] in southwestern France and was educated on a farm in [[Castel-Sarrazin]]. In 1972, when he was sixteen, Ducasse began an [[apprenticeship]] at the Pavillon Landais restaurant in [[Cantons of the Landes department|Soustons]] and at the [[Bordeaux]] hotel school. After this apprenticeship, he began work at [[Michel Guérard]]'s restaurant in [[Communes of the Landes department|Eugénie-les-Bains]] while also working for [[Gaston Lenôtre]] during the summer months. In 1977, Ducasse started working as an assistant at [[Moulin de Mougins]] under legendary chef [[Roger Vergé]], creator of [[Cuisine du Soleil]], and learned the [[Provence#Cuisine|Provençal]] cooking methods for which he was later known.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

In 2012 he held 21 [[Michelin Guide|Michelin]] stars, making him the second ranked chef worldwide in terms of total Michelin stars – [[Joël Robuchon]] had 31 and [[Gordon Ramsay]] had 17 at the time.<ref>{{Citation|last=MasterChefUS|title=MasterChef US – S03Ep18|date=28 August 2012|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjXKNZilL0w |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/PjXKNZilL0w |archive-date=13 December 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Ducasse's first position as chef came in 1980 when he took over the kitchens at L'amandier in [[Mougins]]. One year later, he assumed the position of head chef at La Terrasse in the [[Hôtel Juana]] in [[Juan-les-Pins]]. In 1984, he was awarded two stars in the Michelin [[Michelin Guide|Red Guide]]. In the same year Ducasse was the only survivor of a Piper Aztec aircraft crash that injured him severely.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/news/features/42588/index4.html|title=L'Obsession|website=NYMag.com|date=3 January 2008 |access-date=16 July 2018}}</ref>

==Career as chef==
[[File:Alain Ducasse2010.jpg|left|thumb|Alain Ducasse (centre) at the Congresso italiano di cucina d'autore with [[Massimo Bottura]] (left)]]
In 1986, Ducasse was offered the chef position at the [[Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo|Hôtel de Paris]] in [[Monte Carlo]], with management including the hotel's Le Louis XV. After assuring himself that the Hotel's other restaurant operations were operating well, Ducasse continued to run management.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

In 1988, Ducasse expanded beyond the restaurant industry and opened La Bastide de Moustiers, a twelve-bedroom [[country inn]] in [[Provence]] and he began attaining financial interests in other Provence hotels. On 12 August 1996, the Alain Ducasse restaurant opened in Le Parc – Sofitel Demeure Hôtels in the [[16th arrondissement of Paris]]. The Red Guide awarded the restaurant three stars just eight months after opening.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

Ducasse came to the United States and in June 2000 opened the Alain Ducasse restaurant in New York City's [[Jumeirah Essex House|Essex]] hotel at 160 Central Park South, receiving the Red Guide's three stars in December 2005, in the first Red Guide for NYC. Ducasse became the first chef to have three restaurants awarded three Michelin stars at the same time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ducasse-paris.com/en/alain-ducasse|title=About Alain Ducasse {{!}} DUCASSE Paris|website=www.ducasse-paris.com|access-date=30 April 2019}}</ref> That restaurant closed in 2007 when Ducasse chose to open a restaurant in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]] named Mix, which later went on to earn one star in the [[Michelin]] Red Guide.  In early 2008, Ducasse opened Adour, at the St. Regis Hotel on 16th and K Street in Washington, D.C., and has also opened the more casual Bistro Benoit New York, at 60 West 55th Street.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/dining/05inte.html |title = Here Come the Chefs |work=The New York Times |date = 5 September 2007 |author=Fabricant, Florence}}</ref>

On 2 July 2011, Ducasse prepared a multi-course gala dinner for the [[Wedding of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Charlene Wittstock|wedding]] of [[Albert II, Prince of Monaco|Prince Albert]] and [[Charlene Wittstock]]. It was the first time he prepared an official meal for a head of state. He was also in charge of preparing the post-festivities brunch on 3 July, in conjunction with [[Joël Robuchon]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/celeb-chef-alain-ducasse-prepares-to-cook-for-monacos-royal-wedding|title=Celeb Chef Alain Ducasse Prepares to Cook for Monaco's Royal Wedding|date=8 June 2011|website=[[Fox News]]}}</ref>

==Recognition==
Ducasse became the first chef to own restaurants carrying three [[Michelin guide|Michelin Stars]] in three cities. The New York restaurant was dropped from the 2007 Michelin Guide because the restaurant was scheduled to close. Ducasse has become known through his writing and influences. Ducasse is also only one of two chefs to hold 21 Michelin stars throughout his career.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

He has been special guest in the US and Italian versions of ''[[MasterChef]]''.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Top 4 Compete|url=http://www.fox.com/masterchef/full-episodes/34075696/top-4-compete|series=MasterChef|network=Fox Network|season=3|number=18|minutes=80|episode-link=MasterChef (U.S. season 3)|series-link=MasterChef (U.S.)|credits=Hosts: [[Gordon Ramsay]], [[Joe Bastianich]], [[Graham Elliot]]|airdate=28 August 2012}}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement on [[The World's 50 Best Restaurants]] List.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.finedininglovers.com/stories/alain-ducasse-50-best-restaurants-lifetime-achievement/
|title=50 Best Lifetime Achievement Award: a Tribute to Alain Ducasse | work=Fine Dining Lovers |date=15 April 2013}}</ref> In June 2022 he was recognized by the International Hospitality Institute on the Global 100 in Hospitality, a list featuring the 100 Most Powerful People in Global Hospitality.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mix |first=Pulse |date=2022-08-01 |title=Dr Jeffrey Obomeghie and Dupe Olusola among the 100 most powerful people in global hospitality |url=https://www.pulse.ng/business/dr-jeffrey-obomeghie-and-dupe-olusola-among-the-100-most-powerful-people-in-global/3f8n19m |access-date=2022-08-02 |website=Pulse Nigeria |language=en}}</ref>

==Nationality==
Ducasse was a [[French nationality law|French citizen]] by birth. On 17 June 2008, he became a naturalized citizen of [[Monaco]].<ref>{{cite journal|date=20 June 2008 |title=Ordonnance Souveraine n° 1.679 du 17 juin 2008 portant naturalisation monégasque |journal=Journal de Monaco |issue=7865 |url=http://www.gouv.mc/Dataweb/jourmon.nsf/966e69337756d51ac12568c40037f872/5f537ce85cc906ebc125746e00315bc8!OpenDocument&Highlight=2,ducasse |language=fr |access-date=25 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927091809/http://www.gouv.mc/Dataweb/jourmon.nsf/966e69337756d51ac12568c40037f872/5f537ce85cc906ebc125746e00315bc8%21OpenDocument%26Highlight%3D2%2Cducasse |archive-date=27 September 2011 }}</ref> He chose Monegasque citizenship in order to take advantage of the principality's tax rates, giving up his 
French nationality as Monegasque people were not allowed to hold [[dual citizenship]] at this time.<ref>{{cite news|title=Le chef Alain Ducasse devient monégasque et perd la nationalité française |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jAVXtdwtN1W5CZNfbmULXVJLEVMg |agency=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]] |location=Monaco |date=23 June 2008 |access-date=25 February 2010 |language=fr |trans-title=The chef Alain Ducasse becomes Monegasque and loses French nationality |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914221252/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jAVXtdwtN1W5CZNfbmULXVJLEVMg |archive-date=14 September 2010 }}</ref>

==Restaurants and operations==
Alain Ducasse's restaurants, cooking schools, cookbooks, and consulting activities had revenues of $15.9&nbsp;million in 2002.<ref>{{cite news
 |url=http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072512431/student_view0/chapter22/business_week_article.html 
 |title=Cooking Up a Global Empire, Alain Ducasse finds a way to make haute cuisine profitable 
 |work=Business Week 
 |date=19 May 2003 |first=Christina 
 |last=Passariello 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108200023/http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072512431/student_view0/chapter22/business_week_article.html 
 |archive-date=8 January 2009 }}</ref> Ducasse has also opened a cooking school for the general public in Paris and another for chefs (ADF), which also works for the [[European Space Agency]] to develop [[space food|astronaut meals]] to be taken into space.<ref name="09-30-2007 OLIVIER PASCAUD">[http://www.olivierpascaud.com/ducasse/ Ducasse's delicacies for the international space station] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930190614/http://www.olivierpascaud.com/ducasse/ |date=30 September 2007 }}</ref>

Ducasse's restaurants include:
* [[59 Poincaré]] (Paris, France)
* Adour (New York, US) – Closed 17 November 2012<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://finedininglovers.com/blog/news-trends/ducasse-closing-adour-new-york/
|title=Ducasse To Close New York Restaurant
| work=Fine Dining Lovers
|date=18 October 2012
}}</ref>
* Restaurant Le Meurice, Alain Ducasse (Paris, France)
* Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athenee (Paris, France)
* [[Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester]] (London, UK)<ref name="DORCHESTER">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dorchestercollection.com/en/london/the-dorchester/|title=The Dorchester|website=Dorchester Collection}}</ref>
* [[JW Marriott Essex House|Alain Ducasse at the Essex House]] (New York, New York, USA) (Closed 2007)
* [[Aux Lyonnais]] (Paris, France)<ref name="AUX LYONNAIS">{{cite web |url=http://www.auxlyonnais.com/ |title=Home |website=auxlyonnais.com}}</ref>
* Allard (Paris, France)
* [[La Trattoria]] (Monaco)
* Be (BoulangEpicerie)
* Beige (Tokyo, Japan)
* Benoit (Paris, France) – bistro<ref name="BENOIT">{{Cite web|url=https://www.benoit-paris.com/|title=Benoit Paris - Restaurant Français Gastronomique étoilé au Michelin|website=Benoit Paris}}</ref>
* Benoit (Tokyo, Japan) – bistro
* Benoit (Kyoto, Japan) – bistro
* Benoit (New York, US) – bistro
* Esprit – bistro
* Esterre (Tokyo, Japan) – gastronomy restaurant
* Idam, Museum of Islamic Art, Doha-Qatar gastronomy restaurant
* La Cour Jardin (Paris, France)
* Mix (Las Vegas, Nevada)
* La Terrasse du Parc
* Le Grill<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alain-ducasse.com/en/restaurant/le-grill|title=Addresses - DUCASSE Paris|website=Alain-ducasse.com|access-date=16 July 2018}}</ref>
* Le Rech<ref name="LE RECH">{{Cite web|url=http://www.restaurant-rech.fr/|title=Le Rech|access-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>
* [[Le Jules Verne]] (Eiffel Tower, Paris, France)<ref>[http://www.alain-ducasse.com/en/restaurant/le-jules-verne/ Le Jules Verne] alain-ducasse.com</ref>
* [[Le Louis XV (restaurant)|Le Louis XV]] (Monaco)
* Le Relais du Parc (Paris, France)
* Le Relais Plaza, Hotel Plaza Athénée (Paris, France)
* La Bastide de Moustier (Moustier Ste Marie, France)
* MIA cafe, at [[Museum of Islamic Art, Doha|Museum of Islamic Art]], Doha-Qatar
* Jiwan by Alain Ducasse [[National Museum of Qatar]] (Doha, Qatar)
* Tamaris (Beirut, Lebanon)
* Rech by Alain Ducasse (Hong Kong)
* Rivea (Saint-Tropez, France)
* Rivea (London, UK) [[Bulgari Hotel]]
* Spoon (Beirut, Carthago, Gstaadt, Mauritius)
* Trattoria Toscana ''L'Andana'' ([[Castiglione della Pescaia]], Grosseto, Italy)<ref name="ANDANA">{{Cite web|url=http://www.andana.it/it/l-andana|title=L'Andana - Hotel & SPA Resort in Toscana a Castiglione della Pescaia|date=15 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215110535/http://www.andana.it/it/l-andana |archive-date=15 February 2013 }}</ref>
*Sapid (Paris, France)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pointing|first=Charlotte|date=8 September 2021|title=Another Michelin Chef Opens Plant-Based Restaurant In Paris|url=https://www.livekindly.co/alain-ducasse-plant-based-sapid-paris/|url-status=live|access-date=10 September 2021|website=LIVEKINDLY|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908224450/https://www.livekindly.co/alain-ducasse-plant-based-sapid-paris/ |archive-date=8 September 2021 }}</ref>
In 2004 Alain Ducasse opened a restaurant in a resort near [[Biarritz]], in the French Basque Country. However, after several bombing attacks by [[Irrintzi]], an armed [[Basque nationalist]] organization, which accused him of being a speculator and of "folkloring" the Basque Country, Ducasse decided to leave the Basque Country.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/spain/article/0,,2016267,00.html | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Bombs force French chef out of Basque area | first=Angelique | last=Chrisafis | date=19 February 2007}}</ref>

In 2010 Ducasse opened a miX restaurant at the W Hotel in Vieques, Puerto Rico,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viajesyvinos.com/Viajes_vinos_vendimia2009_files_files.htm|title=Calendario del Vino y Gastronomí|website=Viajesyvinos.com|access-date=16 July 2018}}</ref> but he closed it in 2012.<ref>[http://www.eater.com/2012/8/27/6551355/alain-ducasse-shutters-mix-at-w-hotel-in-puerto-rico Alain Ducasse Shutters miX at W Hotel in Puerto Rico], Eater.com, 27 August 2012</ref>

On 29 November 2017, Melco Resorts announced that Alain Ducasse would open two new restaurants and a bar at the then upcoming [[Morpheus (hotel)|Morpheus Hotel]] at [[City of Dreams (casino)|City of Dreams]], [[Macau]]. The restaurants are to be called "Alain Ducasse at Morpheus" and  "Voyages by Alain Ducasse".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://macaudailytimes.com.mo/food-beverage-chef-ducasse-open-two-restaurants-morpheus.html|title=FOOD AND BEVERAGE CHEF DUCASSE TO OPEN TWO RESTAURANTS AT MORPHEUS|date=30 November 2017|newspaper=Macau Daily Times}}</ref> In March 2017, Ducasse opened Rech by Alain Ducass in the Intercontinental Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2077019/alain-ducasse-his-new-hong-kong-restaurant-rech-its-seaside|title=Alain Ducasse talks about cooking Chinese food the French way|date=9 March 2017|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}}</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:2016 Hotel de Paris - Monaco 03 Restaurant Louis XV.jpg|Restaurant Louis XV, Monaco
File:Le Jules Verne.jpg|Restaurant Le Jules Verne, Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
File:Le Meurice10.jpg|Restaurant Le Meurice, Paris, France
File:Paris 75008 Avenue Montaigne 21 Relais Plaza 20130810.jpg|Restaurant le Relais Plaza, Paris, France
File:Spoon Byblos.jpg|Rivea, Saint-Tropez, France
File:Table Lumière.jpg|Restaurant Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, England
</gallery>

== Michelin-starred restaurants associated with Alain Ducasse and their highest rating ==
{{Michelin star key|no4=yes|no5=yes|no6=yes|no7=yes}}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;""
|+
! scope="col"|No.
! scope="col"|Name
! scope="col"|Country
! scope="col"|Rating
|-
! scope="row"|1
|[[Le Louis XV (restaurant)|Le Louis XV - Alain Ducasse à l'Hôtel de Paris (Monte-Carlo)]]
|{{Flag|Monaco}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=3}}
|-
! scope="row"|2
|[[Alain Ducasse au Hôtel Le Parc (Paris)]]
|{{Flag|France}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=3}}
|-
! scope="row"|3
|[[Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée (Paris)]]
|{{Flag|France}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=3}}
|-
! scope="row"|4
|[[Restaurant Le Meurice Alain Ducasse (Paris)]]
|{{Flag|France}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=3}}
|-
! scope="row"|5
|[[Alain Ducasse at Essex House (New York City)]]
|{{Flag|United States}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=3}}
|-
! scope="row"|6
|[[Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester|Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester (London)]]
|{{Flag|England}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=3}}
|-
! scope="row"|7
|[[La Terrasse (Juan-les-Pins)]]
|{{Flag|France}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=2}}
|-
! scope="row"|8
|[[ADOUR (New York City)]]
|{{Flag|USA}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=2}}
|-
! scope="row"|9
|[[BEIGE (Tokyo)]]
|{{Flag|Japan}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=2}}
|-
! scope="row"|10
|[[Alain Ducasse at Morpheus (Macau)]]
|{{Flag|Macau}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=2}}
|-
! scope="row"|11
|[[Benoit (Paris)]]
|{{Flag|France}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=1}}
|-
! scope="row"|12
|[[Le Jules Verne|Le Jules Verne (Paris)]]
|{{Flag|France}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=1}}
|-
! scope="row"|13
|[[La Bastide de Moustiers (Moustiers-Sainte-Marie)]]
|{{Flag|France}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=1}}
|-
! scope="row"|14
|[[Ducasee au Château de Versailles - Le Grand Contrôle (Versailles)]]
|{{Flag|France}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=1}}
|-
! scope="row"|15
|[[Benoit (Tokyo)]]
|{{Flag|Japan}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=1}}
|-
! scope="row"|16
|[[LA TERRASSE (Kyoto)]]
|{{Flag|Japan}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=1}}
|-
! scope="row"|17
|[[MUNI Alain Ducasse (Kyoto)]]
|{{Flag|Japan}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=1}}
|-
! scope="row"|18
|[[ESTERRE by Alain Ducasse (Tokyo)]]
|{{Flag|Japan}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=1}}
|-
! scope="row"|19
|[[IDAM by Alain Ducasse (Doha)]]
|{{Flag|Qatar}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=1}}
|-
! scope="row"|20
|[[Blue by Alain Ducasse (Bangkok)]]
|{{Flag|Thailand}}
|{{Michelin stars table cell|stars=1}}
|}

==See also==
* [[List of Michelin 3-star restaurants]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ducasse, Alain}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Orthez]]
[[Category:French chefs]]
[[Category:French male chefs]]
[[Category:Knights of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:French emigrants to Monaco]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of Monaco]]
[[Category:People from Landes (department)]]
[[Category:Head chefs of Michelin-starred restaurants]]
[[Category:Monegasque people of French descent]]
[[Category:French restaurateurs]]
[[Category:Sole survivors]]
[[Category:Survivors of aviation accidents or incidents]]