César Ritz was the first, great modern hotelier. He created the concept of the "grand hotel", which turned out to also be the perfect stage for the "grande cuisine" being created by his business partner, Auguste Escoffier. Ritz startled everyone by the depth and breadth of the luxury he provided, and was an absolute perfectionist. Only Escoffier would he trust with his kitchens. The names of the two are now inseparable in food history.