Eric Ripert is grateful for his early exposure to two cuisinesthat of Antibes, France, where he was born, and to Andorra, a small country just over the Spanish border where moved as a young child. His family instilled their own passion for food in the young Ripert, and at the age of 15 he left home to attend culinary school in Perpignan. At 17, he moved to Paris and cooked at the legendary La Tour DArgent before taking a position at the Michelin three-starred Jamin. After fulfilling his military service, Ripert returned to Jamin under Joel Robuchon to serve as chef poissonier.
In 1989, Ripert seized the opportunity to work under Jean-Louis Palladin as sous-chef at Jean Louis at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. Ripert moved to New York in 1991, working briefly as David Bouleys sous-chef before Maguy and Gilbert Le Coze recruited him as chef for Le Bernardin. Ripert has since firmly established himself as one of New Yorksand the worldsgreat chefs.
In 1995, at just 29 years old, Ripert earned a four-star rating from the New York Times. Ten years later and for the fourth consecutive time, Le Bernardin again earned the New York Times highest rating of four stars, becoming the only restaurant to maintain this superior status for this length of time, without ever dropping a star.
In 1997, GQ named Le Bernardin the best restaurant in America, and in 2007, the magazine named Le Bernardin one of Seven Food Temples of the World. In 2005, New York magazine declared Le Bernardin the #1 restaurant in the city, awarding it five stars in the inaugural restaurant rating issue a position it holds today. Also in 2005, Bon Appetit declared Riperts Butter-Poached Lobster with Tarragon and Champagne its Dish of the Year.
Le Bernardin continues to receive universal critical acclaim for its food and service, and currently ranks 18 on the S. Pellegrino Worlds 50 Best Restaurants list. The Michelin Guide, which made its New York debut in 2005, honored Chef Ripert and Le Bernardin with its highest rating of three stars in 2005 and each year thereafter. In the 2011 edition of the Zagat Guide, Le Bernardin receives a 29 out of 30 rating for food: the highest in New York City and the first time thats happened since 1996. In 1998, the James Beard Foundation named Le Bernardin Outstanding Restaurant of the Year and Eric Ripert Top Chef in New York City. In 1999, the restaurant received the Outstanding Service award from the Beard Foundation, and in 2003, the Foundation named Ripert Outstanding Chef in the United States. In his year-end dining feature, Frank Bruni of The New York Times selected Le Bernardin as the Best Meal of 2008. In addition, Ripert has partnered with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company to open restaurants at various destinations including Blue in Grand Cayman, Westend Bistro in Washington D.C., and 10 Arts Bistro in Philadelphia.
Ripert has served as guest judge (and fan favorite) on Bravos Top Chef for four seasons and has appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, The Charlie Rose Show, Ellen DeGeneres, TODAY, Regis & Kelly, and Martha Stewart. In fall 2008, Ripert published On the Line, his second cookbook with Artisan. In 2002, Artisan published A Return to Cooking, a collaboration between Ripert, photographers Shimon and Tammar Rothstein, artist Valentino Cortazar, and writer Michael Ruhlman that was selected by Newsweek as one of its best books of the season. In September 2009, AVEC ERIC, Riperts first TV show, debuted on PBS stations, and is currently in its second season. The show won two Daytime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Culinary Program (2011) and Outstanding Achievement in Main Title and Graphic Design (2010). Avec Eric: a culinary journey with Eric Ripert, (Wiley) was released in November 2010 with more than 100 recipes inspired by Riperts travels.
Ripert is the Chair of City Harvests Food Council, working to bring together New Yorks top chefs and restaurateurs to raise funds and increase the quality and quantity of food donations to New Yorks neediest. When not in the kitchen, Ripert enjoys good tequila and peace and quiet. He lives on the Upper East Side and Sag Harbor with his wife and young son.
