Benoit Violier, named world's 'best' chef, dies in apparent suicide

Chef Benoit Violier, whose Swiss restaurant was named the best in the world by France's La Liste in December, was found dead from an apparent suicide, police said. He was 44 years old.

Swiss police said that his body was found on Jan. 31 at his Crissier, Switzerland home. "It would seem that he has ended his life with a firearm," the statement read, reports The New York Times. Police said that they would not release any further information out of respect for Violier's family and they are still investigating.

Violier ran Restaurant De L'Hotel De Ville Crissier-Suisse, which earned three Michelin stars, reports CNN. He started running the restaurant in April 2012, after his mentor, the late Philippe Rochat, retired. Violier had been very shaken by Rochat's death last year after a bicycling accident.

Many of France's best-known chefs took to Twitter to remember Violier. Paul Bocuse called him a "great chef, great man, a gigantic talent" on Twitter. "The planet has been orphaned by the loss of this exceptional chef, Benoît Violier. I am devastated," Marc Veryat added.

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