Chef Benoît Violier's Restaurant Reopens Just Two Days After His Apparent Suicide

The Michelin-starred Switzerland restaurant is up and running again at the urging of Violier's wife.

Two days after his untimely death by apparent suicide, chef Benoît Violier's Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville Crissier reopened at the urging of his wife, according to Agence France-Presse. Brigitte Violier ran the restaurant with her husband for nearly four years, and it earned the highest possible Michelin star rating.

Mrs. Violier reportedly gathered the restaurant's staff on Monday with a message of "the show must go on," and invited guests who had made reservations in advance to honor them.

Chef Violier, 44, was found dead in his home in Crissier, Switzerland on February 29, with a hunting rifle nearby. Violier had spoken in previous interviews about the pressure to maintain standards in restaurants, and reportedly maintained a disdain for the star system. He also was apparently deeply affected by the death of his former mentor, Philippe Rochat, in 2015.

Violier had spent nearly 17 years at the restaurant, first as chef de cuisine and then as executive chef. He succeeded Rochat to become head chef in 2012.

The updated Michelin ratings for Switzerland were announced last October, and Restaurant Crissier maintained its 3-star status. The restaurant was also named best in the world in La Liste just two months ago.

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