New Michelin Stars Awarded in France

Happy news for foodies in France! Michelin has released its new guide to its home country of France and awarded numerous new stars, CatererSearch.com is reporting.

Flocons de Sel, a restaurant located in a chalet in the Megève mountains in the Rhône-Alpes, picked up three stars, bringing the total of three-star establishments in France to 26. Ten restaurants gained a second star, bringing the total to 83, including Sur Mesure at the Mandarin Oriental hotel Paris; and Philippe Labbe's L'Abeille at the city's new Shangri-La hotel.

Meanwhile, Le Jardin des Sens, the former three-star restaurant run by twin brothers Jacques and Laurent Pourcel in Montpelier, was demoted from two-star to one-star status.

A total of 58 restaurants earned their first star, taking the number of starred restaurants in France to 485.

Michelin also awarded 124 Bib Gourmands, raising the total of establishments recognized for offering good-quality cuisine at moderate prices to 630.

The 2012 Michelin guide to France goes on sale on March 1.

Three-star restaurants in France
L'Arnsbourg, Baerenthal/Untermuhlthal
Maison Lameloise, Chagny
Michel Guérard, Eugénie-les-Bains
Auberge du Vieux Puits, Fontjoncouse
Auberge de l'Ill, Illhaeusern
La Côte St-Jacques, Joigny
Bras, Laguiole
Paul Bocuse, Lyon
Le Petit Nice, Marseille
Flocons de Sel, Megeve (NEW)
Le Louis XV-Alain Ducasse, Monte-Carlo/Monaco
Le Meurice, Paris
L'Ambroisie, Paris
L'Arpège, Paris
Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athenée, Paris
Epicure, Paris
Ledoyen, Paris
Pierre Gagnaire, Paris
Astrance, Paris
Le Pré Catelan, Paris
Guy Savoy, Paris
Troisgros, Roanne
Regis et Jacques Marcon, Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid
Le Relais Bernard Loiseau, Saulieu
Pic, Valence
Georges Blanc, Vonnas

New two-star restaurants in France

Le Parc Franck Putelat, Carcassonne
Serge Viera, Chaudes-Aigues
Le Strato, Courchevel
Jean-Luc Tartarin, Le Havre
Auberge Les Morainières, Jongieux
Mirazur, Menton
Chantecler, Nice
Sur Mesure par Thierry Marx, Paris
L'Abeille, Paris
Le Parc Les Crayères, Reims