Chef Gaston Lenotre, legend of French pastry, dies

By Estelle Shirbon

PARIS, Jan 8 (Reuters) - French pastry chef Gaston Lenotre, whose hugely successful catering business made him a household name in his country, died on Thursday at the age of 88 after a long illness, his company said.

President Nicolas Sarkozy hailed Lenotre, who died at home in the Sologne region of central France, as "one of the greatest masters" of modern French pastry.

"He succeeded, with his talent and his creativity, his rigour and his high standards, in raising patisserie to the rank of an art," Sarkozy said in a statement.

Born in Normandy in 1920, Lenotre developed a passion for baking early in life. He opened his first pastry shop in his native region in 1947 before moving to Paris 10 years later.

In 1964, he expanded into catering for receptions, a business that later flourished into an international chain of chic pastry and catering outlets.

It was swallowed up by hotel and services group Accor (ACCP.PA) in 1985, leading to further expansion abroad. Lenotre outlets are now present in 12 countries including the United States, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Lenotre's high profile won him catering contracts at some of the most prestigious events hosted in France, including the 1998 Football World Cup at which he provided meals for 800,000 fans.

Lenotre also opened restaurants in such locations as the Elysee Pavilion on the Champs Elysees avenue in the heart of Paris, and a panoramic dining area overlooking the Stade de France where the 1998 World Cup final was played.