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France mourns star chef Paul Bocuse

AFP Chefs mourning Bocuse at Lyon cathedral, 26 Jan 18AFP
Award-winning Paul Bocuse holds a special place in French cuisine

The crème de la crème of French chefs filled Lyon cathedral in their white jackets for the funeral of Paul Bocuse, known as the "pope" of French cuisine.

Bocuse became an ambassador for French cuisine, with a food empire that spread from France to restaurants in New York, Orlando and Tokyo.

The chefs in St Jean Cathedral included Alain Ducasse - whom Bocuse considered his protégé - and Joël Robuchon.

Bocuse died in his famous restaurant near Lyon, aged 91, on Saturday.

He rose to fame in the 1970s as a proponent of "nouvelle cuisine", a healthier form of cooking. It swept away traditional dishes served with rich and heavy sauces, instead focusing on super-fresh ingredients.

His restaurant near Lyon - L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges - has had three Michelin stars since 1965.

AFP Chefs mourning Bocuse at Lyon cathedral, 26 Jan 18AFP
The pews were filled with French chefs in their kitchen jackets

About 1,000 people attended the ceremony in St Jean Cathedral, while outside a crowd of mourners watched it on a big screen at the entrance.

The Bocuse food empire includes the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, in New York state; a restaurant complex at Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida; and eight restaurants in Japan.

AFP Bocuse in his kitchen at L'Auberge in 2012AFP
Bocuse in his kitchen at L'Auberge in 2012
Reuters Top chefs applauding at funeral, 26 Jan 18Reuters
Top chefs Alain Ducasse, Regis Marcon and Yannick Alleno (L-R) applauded Bocuse