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Chef who started out as homeless dishwasher wins Michelin star for Paris restaurant Chef who started out as homeless dishwasher wins Michelin star for Paris restaurant
(about 5 hours later)
A chef who once slept rough in a Parisian park while working as a dishwasher has recently gained a Michelin star for his highly commended new restaurant in the French capital. A chef who once slept rough in a Parisian park while working as a dishwasher has recently gained a Michelin star for his highly commended new restaurant in the French capital. 
Alan Geaam was born into a Lebanese family living in Liberia, where war forced them to return to Beirut, only for conflict to break out there. Alan Geaam was born into a Lebanese family living in Liberia, where war forced them to return to Beirut, only for conflict to break out there. 
The 43-year-old then embarked on a nomadic journey which saw him live in the US, Italy and the Czech Republic before he arrived in Paris 20-years ago.  The 43-year-old then embarked on a nomadic journey that saw him live in the US, Italy and the Czech Republic before he arrived in Paris 20 years ago. 
At one stage, he said he found himself with around £70 in his pocket and forced to sleep in a park.   At one stage, he said he found himself with around £70 in his pocket and was forced to sleep in a park.  
Although he spoke no French, he managed to find work in a variety of restaurant kitchens, starting out as a dishwasher.  Although he spoke no French, he managed to find work in a variety of restaurant kitchens, starting out as a dishwasher.  
"I worked during the day as a construction worker and at night delivering pizzas and washing dishes," he told the Agence France Presse news agency. "One night the cook cut his hand and had to go to hospital.  “I worked during the day as a construction worker and at night delivering pizzas and washing dishes,” he said. “One night the cook cut his hand and had to go to hospital. 
“No one asked me, but I just took over. There were 14 tables and so I just fed the customers and at the end of the night they were delighted. The owner said to me: 'But you can cook' and I said, 'Yes.'" “No one asked me, but I just took over. There were 14 tables and so I just fed the customers and at the end of the night they were delighted. The owner said to me, ’But you can cook’ and I said, ‘Yes’.”
Mr Geaam, whose AG Les Halles restaurant, his fourth, is near the Arc de Triomphe, said his love of food began when he watched cookery shows on TV.  Mr Geaam, whose AG Les Halles restaurant, his fourth, is in the 1st arrondissement of Paris on the right bank of the River Seine, said his love of food began when he watched cookery shows on TV. 
But he first took it up on his national service in Lebanon. But he first took it up on his national service in Lebanon. 
He said he was still staggered that someone with his humble background would gain the ultimate hallmark of fine dining - a Michelin star. He said he was still staggered that someone with his humble background would gain the ultimate hallmark of fine dining – a Michelin star.
“I never thought the Michelin would be interested in someone like me, who was self-taught, who had to sleep in the street at 19 and who began as a dishwasher," he told France Today.  “I never thought the Michelin would be interested in someone like me, who was self-taught, who had to sleep in the street at 19 and who began as a dishwasher,” he told France Today. 
The chef, whose cooking style combines his zeal for the best quality French produce with his avid interest in and inventive use of spices. The chef, whose cooking style combines his zeal for the best quality French produce with his avid interest in and inventive use of spices. 
“After so many years of mastering the techniques of French cooking, I now feel confident enough to respectfully revise and tweak traditional French dishes to reflect my palate and my culinary story,” he said.“After so many years of mastering the techniques of French cooking, I now feel confident enough to respectfully revise and tweak traditional French dishes to reflect my palate and my culinary story,” he said.