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Jan. 20 (UPI) -- After long having Parkinson's disease, France's celebrated chef Paul Bocuse died Saturday at age 91. "Much more than a father and a husband, he is a man of heart, a spiritual father, an emblematic figure of world gastronomy, and a tricolore porte," his family said in a statement. "Mr. Paul loved life, sharing, transmission, and his crew. These same values will continue to inspire us forever."
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Bocuse, known for modernizing French cooking, earned three Michelin stars at his restaurant Auberge du Pont de Collonges near Lyon. Among his signature dishes was a soup made of truffles and foie gras in chicken broth, baked in a single-serving bowl and covered in puff pastry.
Other famed dishes includes his stuffed sea bass with lobster mousse, and truffled Bresse chicken poached inside a pig's bladder.
The chef was named Chef of the Century in 1987 by the Gault Millau restaurant guide, the same year he created the Bocuse D'Or, a prestigious gastronomy contest equivalent to a culinary Olympics that would draw chef teams from all over the world. In 2004, Bocuse was made a Commander of the Legion of Honor, one of his country's highest civilian awards.
A statement by French President Emmanuel Macron released by the Elysée Palace said Bocuse was the "epitome of French cuisine."
"Today French gastronomy is losing a mythical figure that will have profoundly transformed it," Macron said. "The chefs cry in their kitchens, at the Elysee and everywhere in France. But they will continue his work."
World-wide, chefs expressed their sentiments on social media. American celebrity chef and author Anthony Bourdain said Bocuse was a "hero to me from my earliest days as a cook."
"A great, great chef who was very kind to me. To have spent time with him was an honor and a dream come true. Rest In Peace," Bourdain said.
High profile Spanish-American chef José Andrés said "The angels will have a feast today. Paul Bocuse has joined them. #RIP Amazing influence in so many chefs and people."
