Alain Senderens, leading French chef and a founder of the Nouvelle Cuisine movement, has died aged 77, at his home in Corrèze.

Ranked as one of France’s top chefs for decades, Alain held on to a prized  three Michelin star rating for 28 years, at his restaurant L'Archestrate.  However, he shocked the culinary establishment in 2005, when he repudiated his stars in search of a more affordable and less formal style of dining.

As a founder of the Nouvelle Cuisine movement, Alain was renowned for his unique combination dishes, even if they did upset the world of French gastronomy. His menu included lobster with vanilla and his famous Apicius duck dish, inspired by an ancient Roman recipe. After causing uproar by serving wine with cheese, Le Figaro then credited Alain as the creator of food and wine pairings.

The Guardian reports that food critic, Gilles Pudlowski, has paid his condolences to Alain, via his blog, writing: “He was one of the last great creators