Lucien Olivier

Lucien Olivier was a reputed chef of Russia of Belgian origin. Lucien Olivier was the owner of the famous Hermitage restaurant in central Moscow. Chef Lucien Olivier is credited with creating the world famous salad called 'Salad Olivier', which bears his name. The recipe was, however, fiercely guarded by Lucien Olivier who did not reveal it until his death. He died at the age of 45 in 1883 but all information about the location of his tomb was lost. The tomb of the chef was re- discovered at Vvedenskoye Cemetery in 2008. The inscription found on his tomb reads ‘From Friends And Acquaintances’

 

Professional Life Of Chef Lucien Olivier

Not much is known about Lucien Olivier except that he was regarded as an excellent chef of Moscow. He is believed to have been trained in the traditional haute cuisine of France. He was born in 1838 but his origin remains shrouded in mystery. While some historians believe that he was Belgian by birth others insist that the chef was French in origin.

 

He is credited with the creation of the famous Salade Olivier which is a Russian salad enjoyed all over the world. The recipe of the salad surfaced only after Olivier’s death and has many variations.

 

Achievements

Apart from the Russian Salad, Lucien Olivier may have been the creator of world famous dishes like the Beef Stroganoff and Salad Bagration. Many of the food experts, however, have disregarded the claim terming it as spurious.

 

Trivia

  • Lucien Olivier’s salad is often erroneously referred to as the Russian Salad.