André Soltner Captures a Nation’s Taste Buds with Classic French Cuisine
One of America’s earliest celebrity chefs, André Soltner helped form Americans’ taste for the art of fine French cooking. This young chef from Alsatian chef cooked up exquisite classical cuisine at New York City’s legendary Lutece over four decades. With nearly forty years of impeccable cooking under his belt, it’s no surprise that Soltner has received praise and recognition worldwide.
Chef André was born in Alsace, and began his culinary career at an Asatian hotel when he was 15. He came to the United States, and, in 1961, became the executive chef and owner of Lutèce. The restaurant earned a four-star rating from the New York Times, and became one a New York City landmark for fine French cuisine.
Soltner’s Recipe for Success
For decades, André Soltner’s impeccable, old-world menu, elegant atmosphere, and upscale service attracted food-lovers and celebrities alike, from Woody Allen and Mia Farrow to President Nixon. Customers waited months to snag a reservation at this classic hot spot, traveling across the country to try Chef André’s saumon farci en croûte and chicken in Riesling with delicate marrow dumplings. Lutèce finally closed its doors in 1994–but not before André Soltner received more than two dozen awards, including the James Beard Foundation’s lifetime achievement award, the French government’s prestigious Officier du Mérite National, the Chevalier du Mérite Agricole, and the Légion d’Honneur.
Through all his fame and fortune, André Soltner always remained modest and personable. A New York Times article reported that, in over 30 years, there were only 5 nights when the master chef was not at Lutèce, weaving through his dining room and checking on patrons to see how they liked his food.
Sources:
PBS, Julia Childs: Lessons With a Master Chef. “Meet the Chef: André Soltner”
The New York Times, “Our Dinners with André”
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