Claude Lebey

Claude Lebey was born on 20 November 1923.^[1][2][3]

Lebey began his career in the textile industry,^[1] where he became a chief executive.^[4] He later became a culinary critic for L'Express, followed by Gault Millau.^[1] He was also the editor of cookbooks.^[1] For example, he edited Michel Guérard's cookbook.^[1][2] In 1987, he began publishing the annual Guide Lebey des Restaurants de Paris and the Lebey des Bistrots de Paris et sa banlieue.^[1] He sold the Lebey brand to Gérald de Roquemaurel et Pierre-Yves Chupin in 2011.^[2] A year later, he published his memoir.^[5]

Lebey was the founder of the Club des Croqueurs de Chocolat, a non-profit organization for "chocolate biters", in 1981.^[6] With Jacques Pessis, he was the co-founder of the Association de sauvegarde de l'oeuf mayonnaise (ASOM), a non-profit organization for the defense of egg mayonnaise, in 1990.^[7][8] He was also the founder of Les Amis des bistrots parisiens and Le Club des amateurs de cigares de Havane.^[1][4]

Lebey ate in restaurants 300 times a year.^[1][3]

Lebey died on 10 January 2017 in Provence, at the age of 93.^[1][2][3] Upon his death, chef Yannick Alléno called him "a visionary".^[1]

• Lebey, Claude (1987). Le petit Lebey des bistrots parisiens. Paris: Albin Michel.
• Lebey, Claude (1987). Guide Lebey des restaurants de Paris. Paris: Albin Michel.
• Lebey, Claude. L'Inventaire du patrimoine culinaire de la France. Vol. 1–20. Paris: Albin Michel.
• Lebey, Claude (2012). À table! : La vie intrépide d'un gourmet redoutable. Paris: Albin Michel. ISBN 9782226240187. OCLC 793946280.