Paule Castaing facts for kids

Paulette Castaing, also known as Mère Castaing, was a super famous French chef. She was born in Nîmes, France, on March 14, 1911, and lived to be 101 years old, passing away on August 9, 2012, in Lyon. She was so good at cooking that her restaurant earned two stars from the famous Michelin Guide for many years, from 1964 to 1984. She also received high ratings from another guide called Gault Millau. Many people consider her the very last of the "Mères Lyonnaises", which were famous women chefs in Lyon who made amazing traditional French food.

Early Life and Learning to Cook

Paulette was born into a family of bakers in Nîmes. Her family later moved to a place called Alboussière. She finished school in 1923 and then, in 1924, she started learning to cook at the Hôtel Beau Séjour in Alboussière. This hotel was bought by Eugénie Castaing, who would later become Paulette's mother-in-law. Paulette learned a lot from different chefs there, picking up the basics of classic French cooking. Eventually, she became the head of the kitchen! While working there, she met Raymond Castaing, Eugénie's son, who was studying at a hotel school. They got married in 1933.

Opening Her Own Restaurant

After they married, Paulette and Raymond worked together in different places. They spent winters working in Megève and also worked at a restaurant in Lyon called Alaize. Paulette was in charge of the kitchen, and Raymond was the head waiter. In Lyon, she was near another famous chef, Eugénie Brazier, who was also known as a "Mère." Paulette respected her a lot.

In 1946, Eugénie Castaing helped Paulette and Raymond get their own place. They bought a small hotel-restaurant by the Rhône river in Condrieu. It was called the Maison du pêcheur (Fisherman's House). They worked hard to make it a fancy and popular spot, renaming it the Beau Rivage. This restaurant became a favorite stop for many famous people traveling between Paris and the French Riviera, including well-known actors and directors like Sacha Guitry.

Becoming a Star Chef

The amazing food at Mère Castaing's Beau Rivage quickly caught the eye of the Michelin Guide. This guide gives out stars to restaurants for their excellent food, like awards! Her restaurant earned its first Michelin star in 1950. Then, in 1963, it received a second star, which is a huge achievement! She kept both of these stars until 1988, showing how consistently good her cooking was for many years.

Special Dishes

Mère Castaing was especially famous for her freshwater fish dishes. One of her most well-known creations was her eel matelote. This special dish was made with fresh eels from the Rhône river. She would add grilled bread rubbed with garlic, tasty crayfish, and thin slices of sole fish that were fried in a special batter. It sounds delicious!