Vatel

Vatel is a name that can refer to several topics in history, film, and education. It is most commonly associated with François Vatel, a 17th-century French chef and maître d'hôtel, as well as with a 2000 historical drama film about his life, and with an international network of hospitality management schools.

François Vatel (c. 1631–1671) was a French chef and administrator of households at aristocratic courts. He became famous for organizing opulent banquets for powerful patrons, including the prince of Condé and, in popular legend, a banquet prepared for Louis XIV at the Château de Chantilly in 1671. According to traditional accounts, Vatel killed himself when a delay in fish delivery threatened the success of the royal feast. Historians debate the exact circumstances, but the story has endured as a symbol of culinary dedication and the pressures of court life.

Vatel is also the title of a 2000 historical drama directed by Roland Joffé. The film portrays the life of François Vatel and his attempts to stage a flawless banquet for the king, incorporating romance and political intrigue as central themes. As a period piece, it emphasizes the spectacle of 17th‑century court life and the pressures faced by those responsible for its provisioning.

Vatel is the name of an international private network of hospitality management schools, known as Vatel International School of Hospitality Management. The network operates campuses in multiple countries and offers degrees and diplomas in hospitality and culinary arts. It is named after François Vatel and uses his legacy as a symbol of service and organizational excellence in the hospitality industry.