Thierry Rautureau was a celebrity chef known for his Seattle restaurants and his appearances on “Top Chef Masters” and other TV shows.
- Died: October 29, 2023 (Who else died on October 29?)
- Details of death: Died after fighting pulmonary fibrosis at the age of 64.
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Thierry Rautureau’s legacy
Born in France, Rautureau built his reputation as a chef in the U.S., first in Chicago and Los Angeles, and then most famously in Seattle. He debuted his first restaurant, Rover’s, in 1987. Eleven years later, Rautureau won a prestigious James Beard Award, hailed as the best chef in the Northwest. In 2010, he opened a second restaurant, Luc, a more casual foil to Rover’s fine dining. After closing the doors at Rover’s in 2013, Rautureau opened the upscale restaurant Loulay. Both Luc and Loulay closed in 2021.
Rautureau was the longtime cohost of the talk radio show “Seattle Kitchen” on KIRO, discussing food and wine. He competed on “Top Chef Masters” in both the second and fourth seasons. He also appeared on such cooking shows as “Dining Around,” “Simply Ming,” and “Great Chefs from the Great Cities.” Rautureau was known for his signature fedora, which led to his nickname, “The Chef in the Hat.” Over the years, he cooked for several notable people, including Julia Child (1912–2004) and Stephen Hawking (1942–2018).
Notable quote
“I love life. I love people. I mean what’s more beautiful than sitting with people you like around the table having a little din din and great conversation? What’s more important?” —from an August 2023 interview for Forbes
Tributes to Thierry Rautureau
Full obituary: The Seattle Times
