Michelin Awards Three Stars to Two Female Chefs in London

(Bloomberg) -- Michelin announced two new three-star restaurants in London on Monday — both led by women chefs.

The awards go to Hélène Darroze at the Connaught and to Core by Clare Smyth. They are the first women in the U.K. to win three stars in their own right, though Smyth was the guardian of the three stars at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, where she was formerly chef patron.

“I’m thinking of all the women working in kitchens, and I want to tell them what is possible,” Darroze said on receiving the award in an online event. “Just believe in yourself, and anything can happen.”

French-born Darroze opened her restaurant at the Connaught hotel in 2008. She holds two stars at her establishment in Paris. Smyth trained under Gordon Ramsay and Alain Ducasse, but left Ramsay to open Core in 2017.

Another notable award was a second Michelin star for A. Wong, making it the first Chinese restaurant in the U.K. to hold two stars. Da Terra and Restaurant Story, both in London, also were new recipients of two Michelin stars. Seventeen restaurants were awarded new single stars. A total of 23 restaurants also received a new green-star award for their sustainable approach to gastronomy.

The Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland is being published at a time when U.K. restaurants are closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Boris Johnson initially ordered establishments to shut March 23, and there have been two further lockdowns since then.

“Why then would we be launching a guide and awarding Stars?” Michelin said in a statement. “We want to promote the industry as much as we possibly can. We want to celebrate the many amazing restaurants in Great Britain & Ireland and all the hugely talented chefs and restaurateurs. We want to shine a light on our industry.”

Michelin said it began work on the guide in August 2019 and much had been achieved before the lockdown. Michelin delayed publication, and this year’s guide will only be online, which allowed for late updates. It said no shortcuts were taken and there was no change in standards.

Michelin also announced 16 new Bib Gourmand awards, including seven in London. There are a total of 126 Bib Gourmand restaurants in the new guide, recognized for offering good food at competitive prices.

Three stars are given for “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey,” Michelin says. “Our highest award is given for the superlative cooking of chefs at the peak of their profession.” Two stars represent “excellent cooking, worth a detour.” One star is for “high-quality cooking, worth a stop.” Michelin also has the Bib Gourmand, a separate category of award for good-value, inexpensive restaurants.

The French tiremaker produced its first guide in 1900. It was free of charge until 1920 and was intended for chauffeurs. The volume contained practical information, including street maps and tips on repairing tires.
 

Below a list of all the winners in the three-star and two-star categories, the one-star establishments in London, and the new Bib Gourmands, or good value, spots.
**Indicates a new entry.

Three Stars

Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, London
**Core by Clare Smyth, London
Gordon Ramsay, London
**Hélène Darroze at the Connaught, London (new entry)
Sketch (the Lecture Room & Library), London
Fat Duck, Bray, England
Waterside Inn, Bray, England

Two Stars

** A. Wong, London
Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Scotland
Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Oxford, England
Claude Bosi at Bibendum, London
The Dining Room, Malmesbury, England
**Da Terra, London
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London
Kitchen Table at Bubbledogs, London
La Dame de Pic, London
Le Gavroche, London
L’Enclume, Cartmel, England
Greenhouse, Dublin, Ireland
Patrick Guilbaud, Dublin, Ireland
Hand and Flowers, Marlow, England
Midsummer House, Cambridge, England
Moor Hall, Aughton, England
Raby Hunt, Darlington, England
**Restaurant Story, London
Sat Bains, Nottingham, England

One Star (London)

Amaya
Angler
Barrafina
**Benares
Brat
**Casa Fofo
Céleste
Chez Bruce
City Social
Clove Club
Club Gascon
**Cornerstone
**Davies and Brook
Dining Room at The Goring
Dysart Petersham
Elystan Street
Endo at The Rotunda
Five Fields
Galvin La Chapelle
The Glasshouse
Gymkhana
Hakkasan Hanway Place
Hakkasan Mayfair
Harwood Arms
Hide
Ikoyi
Kai
Kitchen W8
Leroy
Locanda Locatelli
Lyle’s
Mãos
Marcus
Murano
**Muse
The Ninth
Pétrus
Pied à Terre
Pollen Street Social
Portland
Quilon
**Restaurant Behind
Ritz Restaurant
River Café
Sabor
St John
Seven Park Place
**Sola
Trinity
Trishna
La Trompette
Umu
Veeraswamy

New Bib Gourmands

Fallow, London
Flor, London
Legare, London
Mo Diner, London
Paradise, London
Peckham Cellars, London
Volta Do Mar, London
Kentish Hare, Bidborough, England
The Royal, St Leonards on Sea, England
The Square, Porthleven, England
Stag & Hounds, Burrough on the Hill, England
Noto, Edinburgh, Scotland
Goldie, Cork, Ireland
Spitalfields, Dublin, Ireland
Table Forty One, Gorey, Ireland
Volpe Nera, Blackrock, Ireland

Richard Vines is Chief Food Critic at Bloomberg. Follow him on Twitter @richardvines and Instagram @richard.vines.

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