The talk of the town in Paris? No, not the flooded Seine (now receding), nor the majestic snowfall which covered the City of Light in a dazzling coat of white. Food lovers are abuzz about the release of the Michelin Guide France 2018. Which restaurants have joined the galaxy of Michelin stars? Of the total of 621 starred restaurants this year, there are 54 new restaurants with Michelin stars, including two new ones with the coveted three stars. (The honors go to chef Christophe Bacquié at the Hôtel du Castellet in the Var, along with chef Marc Veyrat of La Maison des Bois in the Alps.)
In some exciting news from Paris, the Four Seasons Hotel George V confirms their five Michelin stars—three stars for Le Cinq, one star for Le George, and one star for L’Orangerie—and has now announced a new commitment to sustainable gastronomy. Not only is the palace hotel the first luxury hotel in Europe with three Michelin-starred restaurants, but it’s also embarking on a new course of action: taking a stand for environmental protection.
What this means is that each chef will soon be showing off a new project. Chef Christian Le Squer, who has been awarded three Michelin stars for the last 15 years, will be working in support of ocean protection, launching Surfriders’ Ocean Initiatives on March 17. Simone Zanoni, the Italian chef at Le George, will be focusing on local sourcing, and David Bizet, the chef at L’Orangerie, will launch weekly cooking classes based on seasonal ingredients and garden produce.
José Silva, regional vice president and general manager of Four Seasons Hotel George V, said, "When one paves the way for excellence, one has to imagine the future of gastronomy and we believe there is no such future without a strong environmental commitment."