Legendary Chef Michel Richard has died

WASHINGTON - He was a culinary genius. Legendary chef and author Michel Richard died Saturday morning at Sibley Hospital. He was 68.

Richard suffered a stroke earlier in the week. Shortly after his passing, Richard's death was announced on Facebook by fellow chef Roberto Donna.

He was a giant on the D.C. restaurant scene. Since the 1980s, Richard built a catalogue of restaurants that blended American and French cuisine. He garnered national acclaim with his flagship fine-dining American eatery, Citronelle, in Washington, D.C.'s Georgetown neighborhood and later Central Michel Richard. That eatery is still open today.

Even though Richard was French, he said he loved American food, D.C. tourists and residents loved what Richard served to them.