The importance and impact of top chefs is far reaching. Their innovations and trends influence others further down the food chain (if you’ll pardon the pun), creating a cascade effect that changes the way we all eat.
As to how this progress is evaluated well, ultimately people vote with their feet of course. But there are ‘official’ means of achieving endorsement.
The Michelin star ratings are just one system of recognition, with restaurants meeting strict quality criteria along guidelines laid out over 100 years ago.
And there are other published authorities of French culinary fare. Aside from Michelin, they range from Gault et Millau, Le Bottin Gourmand, through Les Routiers (a different kind of guide, aimed originally at lorry drivers for whom plentiful parking was a key requirement as well as a genuine regard for quality and value) to Le Routard and Petit Futé at the more budget end of the scale.
While all Michelin starred restaurants are noteworthy (and world class in the case of the 3 star rating), it is significant that not all noteworthy restaurants are Michelin rated. In short, the Michelin criteria are not to everyone’s taste and some fine restaurants play by their own rules.
There have always been the detractors. Those who claim that the Michelin guide is a case of the wrong people valuing the wrong things. The waspish Sunday Times critic AA Gill once wrote dismissively that “The legacy of 100 years of Michelin is not just an emaciated, inhospitable French table but the legion of score-settling adjective junkies populating unreadable internet blogs”. Ouch.
Either way, the Michelin guide is here to stay it seems. Here’s a quick selection of a couple of restaurants in each of the star categories. See what you think!
1 star ★
High quality cooking, worth a stop.
Roscanvec, Vannes
Behind a half-timbered façade on the Brittany coast, an inventive menu with refined, contemporary décor.
€30-85
“Using top quality ingredients, dishes with distinct flavours are carefully prepared”.
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Cuisine: French, European
Feautures: Reservations, Seating, Waitstaff, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol
TripAdvisor Restaurant Website
Le Grand Bleu, Sarlat
Sarlat has countless wonderful restaurants and here the young chef is clearly making a name for himself.
€36-125
“Up to the minute cuisine that changes with the seasons”.
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Cuisine: French, European, Vegetarian Friendly
Feautures: Highchairs Available, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Digital Payments, Reservations, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol
TripAdvisor Restaurant Website
2 star ★★
Excellent cooking, worth a detour
Domaine des Hauts de Loire, Onzain
An elegant 19th century hunting lodge in a grand setting near Blois in the Loire Valley.
€85-170
“Excellent ingredients, well executed with one ultimate goal – flavour”.
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Value ●●●●
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Cuisine: French, European, Vegetarian Friendly
Feautures: Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Full Bar, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Serves Alcohol, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi
TripAdvisor Restaurant Website
Le Parc Les Crayères, Reims
A magnificent restaurant in Champagne country with an emphasis on high quality ingredients like lobster, turbot, foie gras.
€69-230
“Expertly crafted dishes… refined, inspired and sometimes original”.
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Value ●●●●
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Cuisine: French, European, Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options
Feautures: Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Parking Available, Valet Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar
TripAdvisor Restaurant Website
3 Star ★★★
Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey
La Vague d’Or, St Tropez
Set on the improbably named Plage de la Bouillabaisse and offering sublime artistry as well as views and service.
€220-350
“Exhilarating pairings, rare ingredients”.
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Value ●●●●◖
Atmosphere ●●●●●
Cuisine: French, Mediterranean, European
Feautures: Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Parking Available, Valet Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi
TripAdvisor Restaurant Website
Paul Bocuse, Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or
Burgundy’s favourite culinary son for 50 years, this almost mythical chef is one of the all time greats.
€145-260
“A high temple of tradition and old-style service”.
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Service ●●●●◖
Value ●●●●
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Cuisine: French, European
Feautures: Free Wifi, Reservations, Parking Available, Valet Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa
TripAdvisor Restaurant Website
Image Credits
Restaurant le Roscanvec http://roscanvec.com/la-carte/
Le Grand Bleu, Sarlat http://www.legrandbleu.eu/
Domaine des Hauts de Loire, Onzain http://www.i-love-emotion.com/...
Le Parc Les Crayères, Reims https://restaurant.michelin.fr...
La Vague d’Or, St Tropez https://www.viamichelin.com/we...
Paul Bocuse, Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or https://www.viamichelin.co.uk/...
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