New Issue: Paul Bocuse (France)

A new French stamp has been issued to mark what would have been the 100th birthday of Paul Bocuse, who is often called "The Chef of the Century" or "The Pope of Gastronomy". I did not know much about Paul Bocuse, but as always Google was my friend and I have discovered quite a lot. He was a truly exceptional person who won many awards (including the Légion d'honneur), opened several restaurants and became so well-known for his outstanding work that the greatest award for chefs, the Bocuse d'Or, was named after him. His influence was enormous and he inspired the character of Chef Auguste in the Disney film Ratatouille. Paul Bocuse died in 2018 at the age of 91. His family asked that there wouldn't be a national tribute because it is not what he would have wanted, as he was "a simple man". I don't know if La Poste has been in touch with Paul's family, but they have produced this fantastic stamp and hopefully it is something that M. Bocuse would have approved of. La Poste has written something about Paul Bocuse's life and work: "In the twilight of his life, he expressed doubts about the lasting impact he would have on history, less the small-scale history of gastronomy than the grand history of humankind: 'After I'm gone, you can do what you want...' "From the Paulo of his youth on the banks of the Saône to the celebrated figure in Gault & Millau, Paul Bocuse's life remained a constant emotional rollercoaster, between the overexposed chef and the everyday man, devoted to his friends, nature, and the river he never lost sight of, even from the other side of the world: the Saône. Of Monsieur Paul, of his Auberge – self-proclaimed 'temple of world gastronomy' – without anyone finding anything to criticize, even today, everything has been said, or almost. And yet. A touch of melancholy lingers in the gaze of a man, 'a poor man’s child who lives like a rich kid,' whose personality possesses a complexity that leaves its mark on both eras and minds. For Monsieur Paul was a contemporary throughout his life, always one step ahead, an iconoclast who, in addition to bringing cooks out of their kitchens, succeeded in elevating his profession to a new level of prestige. "Sketching the life of the king of fine dining is a challenge in itself, so rich and complex was it. Yet, most people will remember two dates: 1961, when he received the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman of France) ("The most prestigious, because it's a personal distinction we keep for life"), and then, four years later, his three Michelin stars (which he retained until his death).

"This is how Bocuse, 'the man from the countryside' in Old French, made his name a global icon.

"'I don't copy, I do the same', he would say, with a touch of irony. The fact remains that the original is unique. Forever." Design Quality - The design is very clean and simple, but still strong. The black-and-white drawing looks serious and detailed, which makes Paul Bocuse look wise and calm. The red text adds a small pop of color without being too loud. It's a simple design, but then again Paul Bocuse was a "simple man", so it feels more appropriate than a loud tribute. 10/10

Theme and Subject Choice - This is an excellent subject choice because it celebrates Paul Bocuse on what would be his 100th birthday. He is often called the greatest chef ever, so it makes sense to honor him this way. A stamp feels like a respectful and important place to remember someone like him. There aren't enough stamps showing chefs - the USA produced a set showing five celebrity chefs in 2014 and France issued a special Valentine's Day stamp in tribute to pastry chef Pierre Hermé last year (below) but there haven't been many others. 9/10

Historical and Cultural Relevance - Paul Bocuse is a huge part of French food history and culture. He helped make French cooking famous all around the world. This stamp reminds people how important food and chefs are to France, not just artists or politicians. 10/10

Innovation and Creativity - The stamp isn’t super flashy or modern, but that feels on purpose. Instead of doing something wild, it focuses on a strong portrait and classic style. That makes it feel timeless. We know what Paul Bocuse's family thought about tributes, so the designer has done something a bit modest - which was in itself a creative challenge. 7/10

Collectability - Because this stamp marks his 100th birthday, it feels meaningful. Fans of cooking, French culture or stamp collectors who like French stamps (and there are a lot of them!) would probably want to buy this. 9/10

Personal appeal - If you'd asked me last week what I would have thought about a stamp with a portrait of a chef I wouldn't have felt very inspired. But I've read about Paul Bocuse today and I feel this is a perfect tribute. The stamp is quite plain and easy to understand, which feels respectful and also the kind of thing Paul's family would want. It also feels like what Paul Bocuse himself would have liked—simple, honest, and focused on the person, not showing off. 10/10  Overall score - 55/60