Born in 1953, Savoy began training to be a chef at the age of 15 (Source: Guy Savoy/Instagram)
Often regarded as the best chef in the world, Guy Savoy’s Paris restaurant was stripped off a star by the Michelin Guide recently. His Monnaie de Paris restaurant in the French capital was awarded three Michelin stars in 2002 and the eatery maintained this status for two decades. In November last year, the restaurant was also named the best restaurant in the world for the sixth year in a row by La Liste, which aggregates thousands of reviews from across the world.
Along with Savoy’s restaurant, the Michelin Guide also downgraded Christopher Coutanceau’s seafood eatery in La Rochelle, southwest France. Reportedly, the celebrated chefs were informed of this news in a private discussion with the international director of the Michelin Guides, Gwendal Poullennec.
“We are fully aware of the impact of our decisions on the restaurants concerned. We maintain a trust-based relationship with the gourmets and our readers. They expect our recommendations to be serious and reliable in order to guide them in their choices,” the Michelin Group was quoted as saying by CNN. It added that they are in the process of contacting other restaurants that will also have stars removed and said that the ratings are “in no way permanent” and are reassessed yearly by their inspection teams.
Talking to AFP, Poullennec said the decision to downgrade these restaurants came after careful consideration. “These are exceptional restaurants, so you can imagine that these decisions are carefully considered, supported by numerous visits from our inspectors throughout the year. For such important decisions, we include not just French inspectors but also some from other countries,” he said.
After not downgrading any restaurant since 2019, owing to the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the latest edition of the guide has removed two to one star from around 20 French restaurants. According to the Michelin Group, these downgrades are necessary to stay relevant. “Yes, there are challenges, but they are challenges for everyone,” Poullennec said.
Born in 1953, Savoy began training to be a chef at the age of 15 and spent the next few years working with chefs around the world. According to Michelin, as a child, Savoy would peek into the pans in the kitchen of his family’s restaurant, La Buvette de l’Esplanade, in Bourgoin-Jallieu.
He opened his first restaurant in Paris in 1980 before moving it into a more spacious space in 1987 and finally locating it in the Monnaie de Paris in May 2015. The restaurant is designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte and features six dining rooms adorned with contemporary paintings and sculptures (many lent by François Pinault) and old-fashioned windows overlooking the Seine.
Acclaimed chef Gordon Ramsay was trained under Guy Savoy and has described him as his culinary mentor. “I’ve never known a chef could bring the sea and the earth together in this amazing, balanced way with an articulated lightness and control,” Ramsay said earlier.
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FAQs
Often regarded as the best chef in the world, Guy Savoy's Paris restaurant was stripped off a star by the Michelin Guide recently. His Monnaie de Paris restaurant in the French capital was awarded three Michelin stars in 2002 and the eatery maintained this status for two decades.
Why did Guy Savoy lose a Michelin star? ›
The decision was said to be down to the cheese used in the soufflé. However, the court ruled against him on the grounds that the chef provided no proof that the downgrade had caused him damage.
Who was stripped of Michelin star best chef? ›
'Best chef in the world' Guy Savoy is mysteriously STRIPPED of a Michelin star at his Paris restaurant - 20 years since best friend Bernard Loiseau took his life after he dropped a rating.
How did Gordon lose a Michelin star? ›
Michelin guide director Michael Ellis told Bloomberg, "We've had issues with consistency, and consistency is a huge thing for us ... we've had some very erratic meals [there]." He explained that the major two-star downgrade was a difficult decision to make but the Michelin team felt it was the right thing to do.
Did anyone lose their Michelin star? ›
However, several operating restaurants have also had their stars deleted. Alongside Hakkasan, London restaurants Barrafina Dean Street and Leroy in Shoreditch have both lost their stars.
Why do chefs lose Michelin stars? ›
In order to earn a star, the food in the restaurant will be reviewed multiple times. To lose one, it will be again reviewed a few times, but generally, it will take less time to make a decision. Key Takeaway: Any restaurant can lose a Michelin Star. Lack of consistency is the main reason why a Star is taken away.
Is Guy Savoy a good chef? ›
69-year-old Savoy has held Michelin's top three-star status since 2002 for his iconic eponymous restaurant, Monnaie de Paris, which overlooks the Seine. He was named as the best chef in the world as recently as November 2022; La Liste, which aggregates thousands of reviews from around the world, gave him that honour.
Did Bobby Flay lose a Michelin star? ›
The Las Vegas Mesa Grill earned Flay his only Michelin Star in 2008, which was taken away in the 2009 edition. Michelin did not publish a 2010 or 2011 Las Vegas edition, so the star could not be re-earned. Bolo Bar & Restaurant closed its doors on December 31, 2007, to make way for a condominium.
Which Michelin star chef quits? ›
A Michelin star chef has quit his job at a luxury hotel in Biarritz after a kitchen hand was reportedly tied up naked for hours during an initiation. Chef Aurélien Largeau ran the five-star restaurant at the Hôtel du Palais in south-western France until 21 December, the hotel management said.
What chef has 12 Michelin stars? ›
Chefs with the most Michelin starred-restaurants worldwide as of April 2023
| Characteristic | Number of Michelin stars |
|---|
| Martin Berasategui (Spain) | 12 |
| Yannick Alléno (France) | 10 |
| Anne-Sophie Pic (France) | 10 |
| Andreas Caminada (Switzerland) | 9 |
6 more rowsFeb 27, 2024
Although Ramsay does not often work in the kitchen professionally anymore, he still loves to cook.
Does Gordon Ramsay have 17 Michelin stars? ›
Gordon James Ramsay OBE (/ˈræmzi/; born8 November 1966) is a British celebrity chef, restaurateur, television presenter, and writer. His restaurant group, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, was founded in 1997 and has been awarded 17 Michelin stars overall and currently holds eight.
Did Gordon Ramsay cry when he lost a Michelin star? ›
I started crying when I lost my stars.
It's a very emotional thing for any chef. It's like losing a girlfriend. You want her back. I think every top chef in the world, from Alain Ducasse to Guy Savoy, when you lose a star it's like losing the Champions League.
Who got a Michelin star in 2024? ›
The new one-star restaurants for 2024 were: Mýse, Mountain, 1890 by Gordon Ramsay, Cedar Tree, Pavyllon, The Bishop's Buttery, Dorian, Humo, Crocadon, Homestead Cottage, Akoko, Lake Road Kitchen, Sushi Kanesaka, Humble Chicken, D'Olier Street, Ormer Mayfair, Aulis and Chishuru.
Which restaurant refused Michelin star? ›
Yes. Le Susquet in France held 3 Michelin stars for almost 20 years, then turned them down out of concern that one dish could trash the restaurant's reputation.
Why did Marco Pierre White return his Michelin stars? ›
Four years later, he realized he wasn't fully satisfied with his work and announced his retirement, returning the Michelin stars. In this regard, he states: "I never earned the three Michelin stars; the men and women who were with me in the kitchen did.
Is Guy Savoy a Michelin star restaurant? ›
Guy Patrice Savoy (French: [ɡi savwa]; born 24 July 1953) is a French chef who is the head chef and owner of the eponymous Guy Savoy restaurant in Paris and its sister restaurant in Las Vegas, both of which have earned multiple Michelin stars. He owns three other restaurants in Paris.
Does Gordon Ramsay still run the Savoy Grill? ›
With world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay at the helm and an expert kitchen and front-of-house team in the restaurant, the Savoy Grill by Gordon Ramsay offers an iconic British and French-inspired menu alongside an exceptional wine list.
Born in 1953, Savoy began training to be a chef at the age of 15 (Source: Guy Savoy/Instagram)
