World's most-starred chef Joël Robuchon dead at 73

French chef Joel Robuchon poses in a corridor on Jan 14, 2016 in the Hotel de ville of Paris during the Grand Vermeil award ceremony, rewarding the best chefs of Paris. Photo: AFP

Joël Robuchon, the world's most-starred Michelin chef who tore down kitchen walls to give diners new insights into the art of haute cuisine, has died at 73, a French government spokesman said on Aug 6.

Robuchon, who was hailed as one of four "chefs of the century" by the Gault Millau industry bible in 1990, founded a string of restaurants that revolutionised fine dining across three continents, ratcheting up a whopping 31 Michelin stars.