Maïté, television figure with her show “La Cuisine des mousquetaires”, died at the age of 86

Figure of television gastronomy at the end of the 20th century, Maïté, whose real name is Marie-Thérèse Ordonez, is dead, announced Emmanuel Macron on the social network X on Saturday December 21. She was 86 years old.

“Ambassador of our traditional cuisine, popular icon, source of inspiration for so many families, Maïté, who so well embodied the art of being French, is no more. I send my condolences to his family, his loved ones and all those who enjoyed listening to him.”wrote the head of state.

Maïté delivered her recipes, reputed to be generous and not very dietary, on television, on France 3 Aquitaine, then on the channel's national network from 1983 to 1997, in the program that has gone down to posterity “La Cuisine des mousquetaires”. With her southwestern accent, over all these years she has highlighted eels, ducks, game and other foie gras.

Marie-Thérèse Ordonez, born June 2, 1938 in Rion-des-Landes (Landes), was spotted at the end of a rugby match by Patrice Bellot, then director of a documentary on the history of the oval ball for France 3 Aquitaine. Before starting a career in television, she had worked at SNCF.