What is the name of the ghost chef who inspires Remy?

The ghost chef who inspires Remy is Auguste Gusteau.

Auguste Gusteau is the famous chef whose restaurant Remy discovers in Paris. Although Gusteau has died before the main events of the film, Remy sees and speaks with an apparition of him. This ghostly figure represents Remy’s admiration for Gusteau and encourages him to pursue cooking despite being a rat.

Gusteau’s guiding principle is “Anyone can cook,” an idea that initially seems to promise that talent can come from anywhere. The film later complicates that slogan: not everyone becomes a great chef, but greatness can emerge from an unexpected person—or, in Remy’s case, an unexpected species.

Gusteau also remains important to the restaurant’s story. Linguini is eventually revealed to be his son, making Linguini the legal heir to Gusteau’s establishment. The character is not Anton Ego, the critic who reviews Remy’s food, and he is not a real historical chef despite drawing inspiration from famous culinary figures.