Last month, Beniot Violier's Restaurant de l’Hôtel de Ville, located in a suburb of Lausanne, Switzerland, was named the world's best restaurant on a prestigious list released by the French Foreign Ministry, ahead of Thomas Keller's Per Se in New York. Yesterday, the 44-year old Violier was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Crissier, Switzerland.
The restaurant's lofty ranking may have been a bit of a surprise, but Violier was clearly a young rising star in the hugely competitive world of high-end dining. At age 44, he was handsome and articulate, and Restaurant Hotel de Ville had earned a prestigious Michelin three-star rating.
Voilier's death came the day before the prestigious Michelin guide was to announce its ratings for 2016. The loss of a star can prove to be ground-shaking for a restaurant and its chef, but Violier retained his coveted top-of-the-scale three-star rating, considered one of the highest honors in the restaurant business.
“I feel a heavy responsibility to be named number one,” Violier told the New York Times shortly after the Foreign Ministry list was released.
"A veritable temple of gastronomy!," the Michelin guide called the restaurant. "Following on from Frédy Girardet and Philippe Rochat, Benoît Violier now runs this noble property with a rare talent. His brilliant, subtle yet powerful dishes are worthy of the best classic cuisine, accompanied by exceptional service in the true spirit of tradition. With its unique and unchanging flavors, the food maintains its characteristic excellence."
A recent menu for a $380 tasting menu included purple sea urchin served in a champagne sauce, cardoons grown by a local farmer, served with black truffles, a filet of black turbot, and a roast saddle of locally-raised suckling lamb with mustard-flavored juices.
The restaurant's founder, Fredy Girardet, had also earned a three-star designation and was called by some the world's greatest chef before his retirement in 1996. Girardet, who was close to Violier and his wife Brigitte, was reportedly "completely stunned" by his friend's death.
Violier was known to be a demanding perfectionist, but contrary to certain stereotypes about loud and abusive chefs, he was known to be outwardly calm.
Violier seemed to have a playful side as well. His portrait pictured him posing in his chef's whites with a springer spaniel at his feet. He also posted an animated Santa-themed video on his YouTube channel. It's hard to imagine a similarly whimsical promotional piece for Per Se or the French Laundry, Keller's high-end restaurants.
Violier was born in France and studied under Swiss legend Joel Rubuchon. He took over Restaurant Hote de Ville in 2012 after the retirement of chef Phillipe Rochat. Rochat died last year after falling ill while riding his bicycle, and Violier was reportedly hit hard by the loss of his mentor, as well as the recent death of his father.
'[My father] died on April 8, three months to the day before Mr. Rochat,' he told the French magazine L 'Illustre last September. 'Within weeks, I lost my two fathers."
Violier is survived by his wife Brigitte, with whom he owned the restaurant, and his 12-year-old son Romain.
Have you eaten at Restaurant Hotel d'Ville? Have you worked in the kitchen of a high-end restaurant? What's your pick for the best restaurant in the world? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
