French Chef Joel Robuchon Dies At 73

The French chef was influential to chefs everywhere

Joel Robuchon, the founder of what we now consider modern fine dining, has died at age 73 after battling cancer.

The French chef had 32 Michelin stars across all his restaurants, which span three continents, making him the most decorated chef in the world. Among many other awards, he was named the "Chef of the Century" by Gault Millau in 1989 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the World's 50 Best Restaurant awards.

It's been a tough summer as far as culinary luminaries are concerned, with the passings of both Anthony Bourdain and Los Angeles Times food critic Jonathan Gold.