A rebellious, aimless teenager is dining with his parents at Auberge de l’Ill—the only three-star Michelin restaurant in Alsace—to celebrate his 16th birthday. The year is 1973 and he has just been expelled from school.
From a childhood spent watching his mother cook for their large family in Alsace, to an inspiring teenage birthday dinner in a Michelin-starred dining room, to a tour running kitchens in Asia, famed restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten has followed a unique path. Decades later, he remains one of the world’s most prolific chefs, with venues across the globe, led by his flagship in New York City.
Read Wine Spectator’s Nov. 30, 2025, cover story on the culinary life and legacy of Jean-Georges Vongerichten as well as his plans for the future!
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