Chef who started out as homeless dishwasher wins Michelin star for Paris restaurant
Alan Geaam once slept rough in a park
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A chef who once slept rough in a Parisian park while working as a dishwasher has recently gained a Michelin star for his highly commended new restaurant in the French capital.
Alan Geaam was born into a Lebanese family living in Liberia, where war forced them to return to Beirut, only for conflict to break out there.
The 43-year-old then embarked on a nomadic journey that saw him live in the US, Italy and the Czech Republic before he arrived in Paris 20 years ago.
At one stage, he said he found himself with around £70 in his pocket and was forced to sleep in a park.
Although he spoke no French, he managed to find work in a variety of restaurant kitchens, starting out as a dishwasher.
“I worked during the day as a construction worker and at night delivering pizzas and washing dishes,” he said. “One night the cook cut his hand and had to go to hospital.
“No one asked me, but I just took over. There were 14 tables and so I just fed the customers and at the end of the night they were delighted. The owner said to me, ’But you can cook’ and I said, ‘Yes’.”
Mr Geaam, whose AG Les Halles restaurant, his fourth, is in the 1st arrondissement of Paris on the right bank of the River Seine, said his love of food began when he watched cookery shows on TV.
But he first took it up on his national service in Lebanon.
He said he was still staggered that someone with his humble background would gain the ultimate hallmark of fine dining – a Michelin star.
“I never thought the Michelin would be interested in someone like me, who was self-taught, who had to sleep in the street at 19 and who began as a dishwasher,” he told France Today.
The chef, whose cooking style combines his zeal for the best quality French produce with his avid interest in and inventive use of spices.
“After so many years of mastering the techniques of French cooking, I now feel confident enough to respectfully revise and tweak traditional French dishes to reflect my palate and my culinary story,” he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments