The figure in white was 81-year-old Paul Bocuse, France's most celebrated chef and the founder of the contest about to start: the eleventh Bocuse d'Or.

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Now the restaurant will honor Paul Bocuse, who in most culinary eyes has become even more accomplished and was named Chef of the Century by the CIA in 2011.

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His co-author, Jean-Francois Mesplede, was longtime director of the vaunted Michelin Guide to France, and the introduction is by one of the most revered living chefs, 3-star Paul Bocuse.

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This city in eastern France is the undisputed Gallic capital of gastronomy due to its rich culinary traditions and to iconic chef Paul Bocuse, whose restaurants, culinary school and influence on the foodie world and other master chefs is immense.

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To the West, he's transferred ownership of Les Chefs de France at Epcot Center to Jerome and opened Monsieur Paul there, while another new restaurant with the Bocuse name opened at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

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