Albert Elie Tordjman

Albert Elie Tordjman Albert was born in Lyon, France to Henri (deceased) and Alice Tordjman. Raised in San Francisco, he attended Lincoln High School. He was a world-renowned chef with a passion for the culinary arts from a young age and would watch his mother Alice, also a chef, with a curiosity and interest far beyond his years. The teenaged Albert traveled to Israel and France, eventually landing an apprenticeship with the legendary Paul Bocuse and working for George Blanc and Alain Ducasse. Moving beyond French cuisine, he worked at Commanders Palace in New Orleans and Country Clubs of America in Dallas. He became Executive Chef of the Rotunda Restaurant in the new Neiman Marcus store in Union Square. Always intent on increasing his skills, Albert took on the challenge of following the well known Masa at Auberge du Soleil in Napa and maintaining its fine reputation. All of Albert's creativity came together when he opened the small but always crowded Flying Saucer Restaurant in the Mission District. His original artistic cuisine, fusing many different ingredients, garnered rave reviews around the world. Well loved by many in the food community, he was respected for his passionate, sometimes obsessive, demand for perfection. Always willing to share his love for food, he was an early instructor at the California Culinary Academy. Albert passed away from a brain hemorrhage on September 16th in Pattaya, Thailand, at age 57. He is survived by his wife Noi of Pattaya; children Remy and Sabine and their mother Lisa; his mother Alice; and sisters Ruth (Virgil) Dennis, Marcelle (Chris) McKay and Miriam (Steve) Lite. His nieces and nephews include Lisa and Jeffrey Dennis, Andrew and Daniel McKay, Rebecca and Henri Lite; grand nephews Noah and Jude Pond and their father Bobby Pond. A charitable fund is being established; donations at a later date will be welcome in lieu of flowers. Funeral Services will be held Sunday, October 11th at 11:00 am at Hills of Eternity, 1301 El Camino Real, Colma.