Operated famed Paris restaurant

Jean-Claude Vrinat, 71, who ran the renowned Paris restaurant Taillevent, died Monday of lung cancer at a Paris hospital, said his daughter, Valerie Vrinat.

The restaurant opened under Vrinat’s father, Andre, in 1946. Jean-Claude took it over in 1972, and Valerie Vrinat has operated it since 1987.

The restaurant, in a tony Right Bank neighborhood, was known for its innovative French cuisine and extensive wine cellar. It won its third Michelin star in 1973, under Jean-Claude Vrinat’s management, but lost it last year.

Guests at Taillevent, named after a 14th century French cookbook author, have included Richard Nixon, Frank Sinatra and French presidents, including the current one, Nicolas Sarkozy. Taillevent also has a wine boutique, Les Caves Taillevent, in Tokyo.

Jean-Claude Vrinat, who ran the front of the house, put in long hours at the restaurant, rising early to help prepare for the lunch service and staying on to greet the last diners on most nights, his daughter said.

Born in 1936 in Villeneuve-l’Archeveque, France, Vrinat studied at the HEC business school in Paris and had his heart set on a career in the automotive industry.

But he entered the family restaurant business as a stopgap measure and ended up staying, Valerie Vrinat said.