Latest news with #Poullennec
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Tresind Studio in Dubai becomes first Indian restaurant with 3 Michelin stars
It is the ultimate gastronomic accolade. And yet when it came it took much of the global foodie community by surprise. On Thursday night, Tresind Studio, an Indian restaurant in Dubai, was awarded three stars by the Michelin guide. This makes Tresind Studio the only Indian restaurant in the world to hold three stars. It is also the only restaurant in West Asia, across all cuisines, to have won this culinary accolade. Michelin stars are highly valued by chefs because of the incorruptibility, expertise and credibility of the guide. One star means that a restaurant is very good. Two stars make it one of the finest in the region. Three stars are only given to restaurants regarded as being among the best in the world. Tresind Studio's success is even more remarkable because its chef Himanshu Saini is under 40 and because it was widely expected that the first restaurant in Dubai to win three stars would be one of the many hyper-expensive places that are run by famous European chefs. Very few people believed that an Indian restaurant had any hope of competing with the biggest names in the world. Michelin clearly did not see it that way. Gwendal Poullennec, the head of Michelin, believes that the 'time is right for the recognition of Indian food on the world stage.' In recent years Michelin has broken with tradition and awarded stars to Indian restaurants all over the world. But three stars seemed like an impossibility till now. Though the guide covers over 50 global destinations and includes thousands of restaurants there are only 151 three star restaurants in the world. Poullennec made a special trip to Dubai for the announcement and two days before Tresind Studio's success was revealed , he went in secret to tell Saini and his team that they had made culinary history. They were sworn to silence and signed Non Disclosure Agreements so the official announcement took the culinary world by surprise. Saini seemed stunned and a little numb when Poullennec told him about the three stars but members of his team whooped, then wept openly and hugged each other in joy. Saini held it together long enough to make a short speech ('this is a big moment for our country, one that will inspire generations ') and then as the enormity of the achievement sunk in, he burst into tears as well. Though Tresind Studio is located in Dubai, its roots are firmly Indian. Saini trained at Delhi's Indian Accent and still credits that restaurant's legendary chef Manish Mehrotra with teaching him everything he knows about food. Bhupender Nath, the owner, is a self made man from a small town in Bihar who made a fortune in the global fisheries business and opened Tresind as a labour of love, backing and encouraging the then unknown Saini. Though Tresind Studio is the group's flagship, there is also a Tresind in Mumbai. Before the third star was announced Saini had promised to spend more time in the Mumbai restaurant. It remains to be seen if he will stick to that resolution now that he is the most successful Indian chef in the world and a member of that tiny international club of chefs who run three star restaurants.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
French chefs await new Michelin guide
The Michelin guide is set to unveil its latest rankings of restaurants in France on Monday, which will identify the up-and-coming talent challenging the country's stalwart three-star cooking celebrities. The famous red bible for gastronomes still makes and breaks restaurants, despite increasing competition from rival food lists and the rise of social media influencers. Around 600 chefs are gathering for a ceremony to mark the 2025 edition in the eastern French city of Metz on Monday, with new stars being awarded "in all regions in mainland France", Michelin guide boss Gwendal Poullennec told AFP. At stake are not only the reputations of the chefs and hundreds of businesses that depend on their stars for visibility, but also France's image as a fine food destination. "The level of the world food scene is constantly rising but I must say that France is holding its own and is part of this dynamic with a growing number of starred restaurants each year," Poullennec added. Each year's guide produces controversy over who is included, who is not, and who has joined the list of anti-Michelin rebels. Showman chef Marc Veyrat has told the guide's inspectors they are not welcome in his new 450-euro-a-head ($485) restaurant in the Megeve ski resort in the Alps after his previous restaurant was demoted in a scandal dubbed "cheddar-gate". Veyrat sued unsuccessfully after inspectors stripped him of a star in 2019. He claimed the downgrade was because inspectors mistakenly thought he had adulterated a cheese souffle with English cheddar instead of using France's Reblochon, Beaufort and Tomme varieties. Vincent Favre-Felix, a chef with a one-star restaurant in Annecy, eastern France, announced last week that he wanted to return his award, which he has held since 2021, after he decided to change his concept. The Michelin guide stresses that its anonymous inspectors are free to go wherever they want and that stars do not belong to the chefs themselves. "These are independent recommendations attributed by the guide," Poullennec said. - Diverse eating - The Michelin guide began as a list of restaurants for drivers in France 125 years ago but is now a global business that sends its tasters around the world, producing editions for around 50 destinations. France remains the country with the highest number of three-star restaurants -- the highest award -- which denotes kitchens where cooking is "elevated to an art form" and chefs that are "at the peak of their profession". Japan is second, followed by Spain, Italy and the United States. But the guide has sought to shed its reputation for elitist and pricey dinners, with more diverse eating options making it onto its lists of recommended destinations. After rewarding roadside food stalls in Thailand and Singapore, the guide granted a star to a taco stand in Mexico City last year, causing a local sensation but baffling regular eaters there. To soften the disappointment for French chefs who lost stars, the guide announced its downgrades for 22 restaurants last week. The biggest victim was Georges Blanc, an 82-year-old who had held three stars for 44 years for his eponymous restaurant in Vonnas, a village in southeast France that has become a food destination thanks to his presence. "We weren't expecting it," he told AFP after being informed he was being demoted to two stars. "We'll cope, and perhaps we'll be less elitist and a little bit more accessible." The prestige of a Michelin star is a guarantee of increased demand -- and prices too. Downgrades can lead to ruin and have been linked to tragedy in the past, including suicide. The 2025 guide will be unveiled on Monday in Metz from 1600 GMT. mdv-adp/sbk/bc Sign in to access your portfolio
South China Morning Post
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
As latest Michelin guide to France comes out, chefs hold their breaths
Chefs across France are waiting for one of the most exciting and dreaded moments of the year: publication of the new annual guide from Michelin with its highly coveted stars. Advertisement The famous red bible for gastronomes still makes and breaks cooking careers, despite increasing competition from rival food lists – from World's 50 Best Restaurants to La Liste – and the rise of Instagram influencers with their younger, online followers. The 2025 Michelin edition's unveiling on March 31 promises to celebrate kitchens outside Paris, with new talents uncovered 'in all regions in mainland France', Michelin guide boss Gwendal Poullennec said. At stake are not only the reputations of chefs and hundreds of businesses that depend on the guide for visibility but also France's image as a fine food destination. International director of the Michelin Guides, Gwendal Poullennec at the Vaudeville brasserie, in Paris on March 14, 2024. Photo: by AFP 'The level of the world food scene is constantly rising but I must say that France is holding its own and is part of this dynamic with a growing number of starred restaurants each year,' Poullennec added.
Daily Tribune
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Tribune
French chefs quake as Michelin prepares new guide
Chefs across France are waiting for one of the most exciting and dreaded moments of the year: publication of the new annual guide from Michelin with its highly coveted stars. The famous red bible for gastronomes still makes and breaks cooking careers, despite increasing competition from rival food lists and the rise of Instagram influencers with their younger, online followers. The 2025 Michelin edition on Monday promises to celebrate kitchens outside Paris, with new talents uncovered "in all regions in mainland France", Michelin guide boss Gwendal Poullennec told AFP. At stake are not only the reputations of chefs and hundreds of businesses that depend on the guide for visibility but also France's image as a fine food destination. "The level of the world food scene is constantly rising but I must say that France is holding its own and is part of this dynamic with a growing number of starred restaurants each year," Poullennec added. What began as a guide for people wealthy enough to own a car in France 125 years ago is now a global business that sends its under-cover tasters to restaurants around the world, producing editions for around 50 destinations. France remains the country with the highest number of three-star restaurants, the highest award, which denotes kitchens where cooking is "elevated to an art form" and chefs are "at the peak of their profession". Japan is second, followed by Spain, Italy, and the United States. But the guide has sought to shed its reputation for elitist and pricey dinners, with more diverse eating options making it onto its lists of recommended destinations. After rewarding roadside food stalls in Thailand and Singapore, the guide granted a star to a taco stand in Mexico City last year, causing a local sensation but baffling regular eaters at the simple four-dish outlet.
Local France
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Local France
French chefs quake as Michelin prepares new guide
The famous red bible for gastronomes still makes and breaks cooking careers, despite increasing competition from rival food lists and the rise of Instagram influencers with their younger, online followers. The 2025 Michelin edition on Monday promises to celebrate kitchens outside Paris, with new talents uncovered "in all regions in mainland France", Michelin guide boss Gwendal Poullennec told AFP. At stake are not only the reputations of chefs and hundreds of businesses that depend on the guide for visibility but also France's image as a fine food destination. "The level of the world food scene is constantly rising but I must say that France is holding its own and is part of this dynamic with a growing number of starred restaurants each year," Poullennec added. What began as a guide for people wealthy enough to own a car in France 125 years ago is now a global business that sends its under-cover tasters to restaurants around the world, producing editions for around 50 destinations. France remains the country with the highest number of three-star restaurants, the highest award, which denotes kitchens where cooking is "elevated to an art form" and chefs are "at the peak of their profession". Japan is second, followed by Spain, Italy, and the United States. But the guide has sought to shed its reputation for elitist and pricey dinners, with more diverse eating options making it onto its lists of recommended destinations. After rewarding roadside food stalls in Thailand and Singapore, the guide granted a star to a taco stand in Mexico City last year, causing a local sensation but baffling regular eaters at the simple four-dish outlet. Advertisement 'Not welcome' To soften the disappointment for French chefs who lost stars, the guide announced its downgrades for 22 restaurants last week. The biggest victim was Georges Blanc, an 82-year-old who had held three stars for 44 years for his eponymous restaurant in Vonnas, a village in southeast France that has become a food destination thanks to his presence. "We weren't expecting it," he told AFP after being informed he was being demoted to two stars. "We'll cope, and perhaps we'll be less elitist and a little bit more accessible." The prestige of a Michelin star is a guarantee of increased demand -- and prices too. Downgrades can lead to ruin and have been linked to tragedy in the past, including suicide. Advertisement Marc Veyrat has told Michelin inspectors they are not welcome in his new 450-euro-a-head restaurant in the upmarket Megeve ski resort in the Alps after his previous mountain restaurant was demoted in a scandal dubbed "cheddar-gate". Veyrat sued the guide after inspectors stripped him of a star in 2019. The showman chef claimed the downgrade came after inspectors mistakenly thought he had adulterated a cheese soufflé with English cheddar instead of using France's Reblochon, Beaufort and Tomme varieties. The 600 chefs who will feature in the 2025 guide have been invited to a ceremony in the eastern French city of Metz ahead of the unveiling of the new French guide on Monday at 1600 GMT. "As always, it's going to be a full house because the immense majority of them will be there," Poullennec said.
