L'Ambroisie is a traditional French restaurant in Paris, France founded by Bernard Pacaud and now run by his son Mathieu that has maintained three Michelin stars for more than thirty years. The name "L'Ambroisie" comes from Greek mythology and means both "food for gods" and "source of immortality."
The restaurant's founder and head chef is Bernard Pacaud. Bernard Pacaud was abandoned by his parents at age 13 and raised in an orphanage in the mountains of Lyonnais. Pacaud started cooking at age 15, in 1962, as an apprentice at the famed Eugenie Brazier's restaurant Col de la Luère located 20 km away from Lyon. Pacaud spent the next three years as commis at the Tante Alice restaurant in Lyon before becoming chef de partie at La Méditerranée in Paris. Pushed by Eugénie Brazier's encouragements, he applied to work in 1976 with Claude Peyrot, the chef and owner of the Vivarois on avenue Victor Hugo in Paris. In 1981, he opened his own restaurant quai de la Tournelle in Paris. In 1986, he opened L'Ambroisie at place des Vosges and obtained three Michelins stars in 1988 which he has kept since then. His refined and classical cooking style makes it one on the most esteemed French restaurants. Bernard Pacaud rarely comes into the public's sight because he devotes himself to cuisine in the kitchen. Bernard Pacaud deeply values the quality of ingredients. When he first opened the restaurant, ingredient costs caused him to run a deficit. He has been described as following traditional processes of making food, taking the utmost care in dishes, and presenting every plate as an elegant art. He frequently combines multiple food in one dish. Bernard Pacaud passed over the restaurant to his son Mathieu in 2012 but continues to pays close attention and makes sure the restaurant maintains its high-level service and quality.
History
L'Ambroisie won the First Michelin star in 1982, and won the second one in the following year.
L'Ambroisie won the Third Michelin star in 1988, 5 years after winning the second star.
