From Marseille to Valréas via the White House, the life of Andrée Imbert is a fascinating journey. From self-taught cook to Kennedy chef, she made history with her passion and talent.
Andrée Imbert: from the south of France to the Kennedy kitchens
Andrée Imbert, born in 1907 in Marseille and died in 1999 in Valréas, embodies an extraordinary destiny. Abandoned as a child, she bore the number 18,603 as a ward of the nation and began her life with host families in Drôme, where she developed her passion for cooking. At a very young age, she learned to prepare traditional dishes, mastering sauces, stews, and cuts of meat. At just 15 years old, she became a cook and made cooking her vocation.
@Ombline Bergougnoux
The success of a Provençal chef
Married to Léopold, owner of a café in Venterol, Andrée opened her first restaurant, Café de la Poste, in 1929. The reputation of her dishes quickly went beyond the borders of Drôme Provençale. However, faced with a difficult marriage and an alcoholic husband, she chose to leave for Lyon and then the Côte d'Azur during the war, leaving behind her daughter Madeleine. There, she worked for influential families and met emblematic figures like Albert Camus and Michel Gallimard.
America's Call
The story changes when Andrée responds to an ad from Americans looking for a cook passionate about France. Hired by the Rogers family, she crossed the Atlantic in 1954 and settled in New York. His meeting with Rose Kennedy, mother of future President John F. Kennedy, marked a turning point. In 1955, Andrée became the official cook for the Kennedy family in Palm Beach. His dishes like potato coves became favorites of John Kennedy, who appreciated refined French cuisine.
A life at the heart of the Kennedys
Andrée lives alongside the Kennedys during their moments of glory and tragedy, participating in John F. Kennedy's presidential victory in 1960. She attends the family's large dinners and picnics, and prepares dishes during election campaigns . After the assassination of JFK, she continued to work for the younger brother, Ted Kennedy, until 1974, watching over his children, whom she considered almost as her own.
In the 1980s, Kiara and Teddy Kennedy visited Andrée in Valréas, a testimony to the deep attachment between the cook and the family. Until her death, she received an annuity from them, proof of the recognition and affection that continued.
@Ombline Bergougnoux
To delve into this fascinating story, the book The Kennedys' cook by Valérie Paturaud (Les Escales editions) offers a detailed and moving account of the journey of this extraordinary woman, who left her mark on American history while remaining faithful to her Provençal roots.
