Rene Verdon was a chef. He was born and reared in Pouzauges, France, where his parents owned a bakery. Although he never attended culinary school, his skills were polished by his having been employed at several of the finest French cuisine restaurants in the world. He eventually was hired in 1961 to be the chef at the White House during the Kennedy Administration, ushering in an era of continental sophistication. During that period, several of his official state dinner menus and descriptions of his dishes made front-page headlines in the news. His most complicated state dinner, as well as his favorite, was transported by truck and boat, to huge party tents on the grounds of George Washington's home Mount Vernon. The event marked a state visit of the leader of Pakistan. Verdon, along with Julia Child's cookbook, 'Mastering The Art Of French Cooking', made this style of food popular around the globe. He remained on staff at the White House into the Johnson Administration, eventually leaving to join the business world and open the San Francisco restaurant, "Le Trianon." He authored five best-selling cookbooks. He wed Yvette Verdon in 1969 and they had no children. Rene Verdon died due to complications from leukemia.
Rene Verdon was a chef. He was born and reared in Pouzauges, France, where his parents owned a bakery. Although he never attended culinary school, his skills were polished by his having been employed at several of the finest French cuisine restaurants in the world. He eventually was hired in 1961 to be the chef at the White House during the Kennedy Administration, ushering in an era of continental sophistication. During that period, several of his official state dinner menus and descriptions of his dishes made front-page headlines in the news. His most complicated state dinner, as well as his favorite, was transported by truck and boat, to huge party tents on the grounds of George Washington's home Mount Vernon. The event marked a state visit of the leader of Pakistan. Verdon, along with Julia Child's cookbook, 'Mastering The Art Of French Cooking', made this style of food popular around the globe. He remained on staff at the White House into the Johnson Administration, eventually leaving to join the business world and open the San Francisco restaurant, "Le Trianon." He authored five best-selling cookbooks. He wed Yvette Verdon in 1969 and they had no children. Rene Verdon died due to complications from leukemia.
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