The Michelin Guide has just released its 2014 designations. Here’s a quick summary, for those who are still following the Red Guide, plus links to the reactions from local and foreign critics.
Promotions
Newly 3-starred
- None in Paris and only one for all of France: L’Assiette Champenoise in Reims. Franck Pinay-Rabaroust from Atabula has an interesting analysis about why this restaurant and not its main competitor Les Crayères might have grabbed the top spot.
Newly 2-starred
- Akrame (16th)
Newly 1-starred
- Jin (1st)
- Goust (2nd)
- Okuda (8th)
- La Scène (8th) – winner of Top Chef 2011
- Septime (11th)
- Qui Plume la Lune (11th)
- St-James Paris (16th)
- Rech (17th)
Lost Stars
From three stars to zero
- Alain Ducasse at the Plaza Athenée (8th) – closed for renovation
From two stars to zero
- Apicius (8th)
- Senderens (8th)
From one star to zero
- 35° Ouest (7th)
- Le Divellec (7th)
- Stella Maris (8th)
- Le Lumière (9th)
- L’Instant d’Or (16th)
- Bigarrade (17th) – change of chef and ownership
New “Bib Gourmand” designations
– More affordable restaurants offering a three-course meal for no more than 35 euros
- Bistrot Belhara (7th)
- La Laiterie Sainte-Clotilde (7th)
- Les Affranchis (9th)
- Les Canailles (9th)
- La Régalade Conservatoire (9th)
- Il Goto (12th)
- L’Essentiel (14th)
- Le Pario (15th)
- Le Petit Verdot du 17ème (17th)
- Miroir (18th)
Additional Reading
Guide Michelin France presents “Toutes les nouvelles étoiles 2014”
François-Régis Gaudry analyzes the promotion of L’Assiette Champenoise, the demotion of Apicius, and asks why it was Septime and not Le Chateaubriand to gain a star.
Francois Simon picks out all the Michelin starred female chefs in France including Anne-Sophie Pic , Adeline Grattard, Hélène Darroze, Stéphanie Le Quellec and Virginie Basselot from Paris.
L’Express presents the two former Top Chef contestants who were awarded stars this year
A Tabula examines the politics behind third star promotions
Le Monde and Le Figaro present the restaurants who have gained or lost a star
The Telegraph asks “Are the French losing their taste for the Michelin guide?”