Georges Perrier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Georges Perrier
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Georges Perrier photographed in the 1990s by Carol M. Highsmith.
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| Pronunciation | /dʒɔːdʒˈpɛri.eɪ/ |
| Born | December 10, 1943 Lyon, France
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| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Chef, businessman |
| Style | French cuisine |
Georges Perrier (born in 1943) is a famous French chef. He moved to the United States in 1967 and settled in Philadelphia. He is best known for creating and running the world-famous restaurant Le Bec-Fin. He also opened other popular restaurants and cafés.
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A Chef from a Young Age
Georges Perrier discovered his love for cooking when he was only 12 years old. His first big dish was "Sweetbreads with Mushrooms and Madeira." After making that meal, he knew he wanted to be a chef.
Just two years later, at age 14, he began his training. He learned from some of the best chefs in France. He worked at several top restaurants, including one owned by the legendary chef Fernand Point.
The Famous Le Bec-Fin
In 1967, Perrier moved to the United States to work as a head chef. Three years later, in 1970, he opened his own restaurant, Le Bec-Fin. It specialized in high-quality French seafood dishes. The restaurant was so successful that it moved to a bigger location on Walnut Street in 1983.
Le Bec-Fin quickly became known as one of the best restaurants in the entire country. It won many prestigious awards. For over 20 years, it earned a Five-Star rating from the Mobil Travel Guide. It also received a Five-Diamond rating from AAA since 1989.
Readers of major magazines like Gourmet and Conde Nast Traveler voted it as the number one restaurant. At Le Bec-Fin, Perrier created amazing dishes like the galette de crabe, his special French version of an American crab cake.
After 43 successful years, the restaurant closed in 2013.
Other Restaurants and Teaching
Brasserie Perrier
In 1997, Perrier opened a second restaurant called Brasserie Perrier. It was more casual than the very fancy Le Bec-Fin. It offered a modern dining experience. The brasserie was very popular but closed in 2009.
Bistro Perrier
In 2017, Chef Perrier began working at The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College. He became a "master-in-residence," sharing his skills with student chefs. He helped guide their careers by teaching classes, hosting special dinners, and leading workshops. The college's restaurant was later named Bistro Perrier in his honor.
On Screen and in Film
Georges Perrier appeared on television many times to share his cooking skills.
- 1994: He was featured on the Discovery Channel's "Great Chefs" series.
- 1995: He was a guest on "The Late Show with David Letterman."
- 2001-2012: He was the subject of a multi-part French TV documentary series called "...".
- 2015: A movie about his life and career, called "King Georges," was released.
Major Awards and Achievements
Throughout his career, Georges Perrier received many honors for his amazing cooking.
- In 1981, he was accepted into the Maitres Cuisiniers de France, a very respected society of French chefs.
- In 1989, the same group named him "Chef of the Year."
- In 1998, he won the "Best Mid-Atlantic Chef" award from the James Beard Foundation, which is like the Oscars for food.
- In 2009, the French government gave him the Legion d'Honneur, one of France's highest awards.
He also published a cookbook in 1997 called Georges Perrier Le Bec-Fin Recipes, which shared over 100 of his famous recipes.
