The culinary world was left in shock when it was announced that Guy Savoy, a world-renowned French chef, had been stripped of his Michelin star. The Michelin guide is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious restaurant guides in the world, and losing a star can have a significant impact on a restaurant’s reputation and business. Savoy’s eponymous restaurant, located in Monnaie de Paris overlooking the Seine, had been awarded a third Michelin star in 2002, and had held onto that status for over two decades. Furthermore, the restaurant had also been named the “best restaurant in the world” by Parisian guide La Liste for the sixth consecutive year in November 2022, making the demotion even more surprising.
Poullennec said “These are exceptional restaurants, so you can imagine that these decisions are carefully considered, supported by numerous visits from our inspectors throughout the year,” Gwendal Poullennec, head of the Michelin guide, told AFP. “For such important decisions, we include not just French inspectors but also some from other countries,”
Guy Savoy is a highly respected figure in the culinary industry, not only for his exceptional culinary skills but also for his influence as a teacher and mentor. In addition to his flagship restaurant, Savoy owns four other restaurants in Paris and a flagship restaurant in Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas. He has trained some of the biggest names in global gastronomy, including Gordon Ramsay, who refers to Savoy as his “culinary mentor.” The chef has also made a cameo appearance as a supporting character in the French version of the popular animated film, Ratatouille.
The Michelin guide’s decision to demote Guy Savoy’s restaurant has been met with mixed reactions. Some have praised the guide for being impartial and upholding its high standards, while others have criticized it for being too harsh and not taking into account the difficulties that the restaurant industry has faced due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Michelin guide itself acknowledged that it had not downgraded any restaurants since 2019 due to the pandemic, but now deems it necessary to do so in order to maintain its relevance.
In addition to Guy Savoy’s demotion, around 20 French restaurants have also been downgraded from two to one star in the latest edition of the Michelin guide. This move is likely to spark debate within the culinary industry and lead to renewed discussions about the role and influence of restaurant guides. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen whether Guy Savoy and his team will bounce back and regain their Michelin star in the future.
