La Pyramide
Encyclopedia
La Pyramide was a Michelin Guide
3-star restaurant located in Vienne, Isère
, France
. It was widely believed to be the best restaurant in France while its owner Fernand Point (1897–1955) was alive.
Point was born in Louhans. A larger-than-life man in every way, he was his generation's master of la grande cuisine, simplifying the work of Escoffier. Point's proteges became masters of the Nouvelle cuisine of the 1960s and 1970s. They include Paul Bocuse
, Alain Chapel
, Francois Bise, Louis Outhier
, and Jean and Pierre Troisgros. Georges Perrier trained at La Pyramide prior to founding Le Bec-Fin
.
Much as he was strict and unforgiving in the kitchen, Point (often with Paul Bocuse
as his apprentice and wing-man) was known to play pranks on his patrons and visitors. Parisian high society visitors would find themselves ushered into the kitchen, pushed into a corner, and fed one of Point's latest and greatest dishes under the pretense of being asked to evaluate the readiness of the offering while Bocuse, hidden underneath a prep table, whitewashed the heels of their shoes.
Postmen or visiting locals fared not much better, in one famous stunt Point ordered Bocuse to paint the bicycle of a visiting gendarme pink while Point distracted his visitor.
La Pyramide was named after a nearby Roman pyramid that had marked the turn of a chariot racetrack. After Point's death, his widow, Mado, carried on and maintained the restaurant's 3-star rating for many years.
Thomas Keller
of Napa Valley's French Laundry
has cited Point's work as being very significant to his training.
Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the Michelin stars...
3-star restaurant located in Vienne, Isère
Vienne, Isère
Vienne is a commune in south-eastern France, located south of Lyon, on the Rhône River. It is the second largest city after Grenoble in the Isère department, of which it is a subprefecture. The city's population was of 29,400 as of the 2001 census....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It was widely believed to be the best restaurant in France while its owner Fernand Point (1897–1955) was alive.
Point was born in Louhans. A larger-than-life man in every way, he was his generation's master of la grande cuisine, simplifying the work of Escoffier. Point's proteges became masters of the Nouvelle cuisine of the 1960s and 1970s. They include Paul Bocuse
Paul Bocuse
Paul Bocuse is a French chef based in Lyon who is famous for the high quality of his restaurants and his innovative approaches to cuisine...
, Alain Chapel
Alain Chapel
Alain Chapel was a French Michelin 3 starred chef, credited with being one of the originators of Nouvelle Cuisine.Chapel was born in Lyon, the son of Maître d' Charles and his wife Eva...
, Francois Bise, Louis Outhier
Louis Outhier
Louis Outhier is a French chef best known for Restaurant L'Oasis, a restaurant he ran in La Napoule, a village near Cannes on the French Riviera, from 1954 to 1988.-Career:...
, and Jean and Pierre Troisgros. Georges Perrier trained at La Pyramide prior to founding Le Bec-Fin
Le Bec-Fin
Le Bec-Fin is a French restaurant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania which opened in 1970. Owner and founder Georges Perrier named the restaurant after the French colloquialism for "Fine Palate". The restaurant has been rated as America's finest French restaurant and the Mobil Travel Guide has...
.
Much as he was strict and unforgiving in the kitchen, Point (often with Paul Bocuse
Paul Bocuse
Paul Bocuse is a French chef based in Lyon who is famous for the high quality of his restaurants and his innovative approaches to cuisine...
as his apprentice and wing-man) was known to play pranks on his patrons and visitors. Parisian high society visitors would find themselves ushered into the kitchen, pushed into a corner, and fed one of Point's latest and greatest dishes under the pretense of being asked to evaluate the readiness of the offering while Bocuse, hidden underneath a prep table, whitewashed the heels of their shoes.
Postmen or visiting locals fared not much better, in one famous stunt Point ordered Bocuse to paint the bicycle of a visiting gendarme pink while Point distracted his visitor.
La Pyramide was named after a nearby Roman pyramid that had marked the turn of a chariot racetrack. After Point's death, his widow, Mado, carried on and maintained the restaurant's 3-star rating for many years.
Thomas Keller
Thomas Keller
Thomas Keller is an American chef, restaurateur, and cookbook writer. He and his landmark Napa Valley restaurant, The French Laundry in Yountville, California, have won multiple awards from the James Beard Foundation, notably the Best California Chef in 1996, and the Best Chef in America in 1997...
of Napa Valley's French Laundry
French Laundry
The French Laundry is a French restaurant located in Yountville, California, in the Napa Valley. The chef and owner of the French Laundry is Thomas Keller....
has cited Point's work as being very significant to his training.