André Soltner
Birth Name:
André Soltner
Birth Place:
Alsace, France
Fast Facts
- 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
- 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
- Became the chef of the Chez Hansi restaurant in Paris at the age of 27
- Began his apprenticeship at the Hotel du Parc in Mulhouse, France at the age of 15
- 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