Top French-Swiss Chef Benoit Violier dies at 44, police don't rule out suicide

GENEVA: One of the world's most respected chefs, Benoit Violier, whose 3-star restaurant in Switzerland recently topped the list of world's best 1,000 restaurants, has been found dead at his home in an apparent suicide, police said today.

The 44-year-old ran the 3-star Michelin eaterie Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville in Crissier, near Lausanne in Switzerland.

In a statement, Swiss police said: "Late in the afternoon, police... went to Crissier (Violier's home) where they discovered at his home the body of Benoit Violier."

The statement added that it appeared Violier had shot himself with a firearm.

Violier's restaurant was last year crowned the "world's best restaurant" by France's La Liste ranking, which named 1,000 top establishments in 48 countries.

He was also named Chef of the Year in 2013 by the influential Gault & Millau guide.

Swiss police said an investigation had been opened into Violier's death, who was working at the restaurant since 2012 and received Swiss nationality only two years ago.

Police added that "out of respect for the family" the Swiss authorities would be making no further comment.