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Australia - Roman Bapst

Bailliage of Australia
Maître Rôtisseur

Recipient of the French 'Order of Agricultural Merit'

A special and rare achievement: Brisbane member and leading restaurateur, Maître Rôtisseur Romain Bapst, Chef/Owner of the French restaurant Lutèce Bistro & Wine Bar in the city, has been awarded the French “Order of Agricultural Merit” (French: l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole).

The award is bestowed by the Republic of France for an outstanding contribution to agriculture. It was second in importance only to the Legion d’honneur within the French order of precedence when it was created.

Romain was made a Chevalier of the Order by the French government, the official announcement being made on January 31, 2017, by Stephane Le Foll, the Minister of Agriculture at the time. However it was not until a special reception on Friday, October 13th at Romain’s Lutèce Bistro & Wine Bar that he actually received the award from the Monsieur Nicolas Croizer, Consul Genéral of France in Australia.

In the late 19th century, French Minister of Agriculture Jules Méline established the Order reasoning that more than 18 million Frenchmen lived directly from the industry which had a direct and powerful impact on the entire national economy. Devotion was commonplace by farmers, agronomists, professors, researchers, labourers, but the rewards were rare.

The citation for the award spoke of Romain’s “tireless devotion to the promotion of French cuisine for three decades and his support in making Brisbane ‘Australia's New World City’ by pinning the city on the Asia Pacific culinary map”.

Romain Bapst is a multi-award-winning chef who has graced the creative kitchens of Mietta’s Melbourne, Hayman Island Great Barrier Reef, Prunier’s Sydney, and Il Centro & Drift events before opening his own restaurant Lutèce Bistro & Wine Bar in Brisbane.

Over the years Romain’s achievements include being …
- President, Académie Culinaire de France in Australia
- President, Bocuse d’Or Australia
- President, Les Toques Blanches Queensland
- sole Maître Canardier in Australia
- Member, Toques Blanches du Monde
- Vice-President, Chefs of the Future.
- Maître Rôtisseur member of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs (since 2005)

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