France awards four world renownned chefs honorary doctorates

 For the first time in France, four renowned chefs will receive honorary doctorates by the University of Tours.

A chef adds the finishing touches to his dish AFP / JEFF PACHOUD

 “No French university has until now given honoris causa doctorates to master chefs” said Francis Chevrier head of the European Institute of the History and Culture of Food which was behind the initiative.

Swiss chef Philippe Rochat, Spaniard Martin Berastegui, Japan’s Kiyomi Mikuni and Belgian Pierre Wynants were all chosen by a panel of 45 professionals, including French culinary legends Alain Ducasse, Joel Robuchon and Guy Savoy.

The degrees are reserved for foreign nationals and will be conferred by the University of Tours in the presence of French Agriculture Minister Stéphane Le Foll.

“There is no university degree in the field of gastronomic sciences in France. The Italians on the other hand have created a university for gastronomic sciences” explained Chevrier.

“These honours will help shake things up” he added.

The Italian university that offers such a degree is located in the north-west of the country in the region of Piedmont, in a small town called Pollenzo. It’s near the birthplace of the Slow Food Movement in the town of Bra.