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André Soltner Biography

Birth Name:André Soltner

Birth Place:Alsace, France

Fast Facts

  • With his wife, he established the André and Simone Soltner Food Education Scholarship with the American Institute of Wine & Food to assists students with their culinary education
  • Won a Lifetime Achievement Award from the James Beard Foundation
  • Under his leadership, the Lutece received five stars from the Mobil Guide and four stars from The New York Times
  • Was awarded an Officier du Mérite National and Chevalier dans l'Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur from the French government
  • Began his apprenticeship at the Hotel du Parc in Mulhouse, France at the age of 15
  • Became the chef of the Chez Hansi restaurant in Paris at the age of 27
  • Quote: "(On selling Lutece): "You know, we had for many years top ratings in The New York Times, Mobil Guide, all these things․ If I would have gone on for 10 more years and lost that, it would have bothered me․ Like a boxer who does one fight too much․""
  • Began teaching at The French Culinary Institute in 1995, where he is both a hands-on instructor and a career counselor
  • Best known as a chef and author who owns the restaurant Lutece
  • During the 34 years it was open, the Lutece hosted such famous names as Richard Nixon, Katharine Hepburn, John Lennon, and the Kennedy family