La Poste soon unveils a stamp bearing the effigy of Paul Bocuse

This is news that will not go unnoticed by all epicureans. The man considered the greatest chef of the 20ᵉ century by the Guide Jaune is being honored by La Poste. In 2026, the postal service will offer the late chef a stamp bearing his effigy. This is a rare and precious honor, in keeping with the legacy left by the resident of the Auberge de Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or. Before him, only chef Joël Robuchon, if you can believe it, had the honor of having a stamp named after him.

A culinary heritage to preserve

In order to create a stamp, La Poste's philatelic commission is responsible for validating the proposals. This has been the case since mid-July. As the final step in the manufacturing process, the Paul Bocuse Foundation obtained the agreement of Jérôme Bocuse, his son, to validate the project.

The heritage left by the Lyonnais chef, who trained at Mère Brazier among other places, is immense. Having passed away in 2018, at the age of 91, Olivier Couvin and Gilles Reinhardt are responsible for the legacy of his skills and cuisine. His recipes, such as loup en croûte, volaille de Bresse en vessie et sa sauce aux morilles (Bresse poultry in a bladder with morel mushroom sauce) and the famous soupe VGE (in honor of President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing), are known throughout France. Immortalizing Paul Bocuse's presence with a stamp seems a fitting way to ensure his memory.

For impatient stamp-loving gourmets, La Poste will issue a booklet of 12 postage stamps featuring French pastries on October 7, 2024. They, too, are true emblems of gastronomy. You'll be able to feast your eyes on tarte Tatin, fraisier, éclair au chocolat, tarte au citron, religieuse, mille-feuille, flan pâtissier, paris-brest, opéra, macarons, saint-honoré and baba au rhum. The booklet will be printed in 2,640,000 copies, with a retail price of 15.48 euros.