A few weeks before unveiling the 2018 MICHELIN-starred restaurants, Michelin is delighted to unveil the new Bib Gourmand selection for France – the inspectors’ favourite establishments chosen for their very good value for money.
644 restaurants have been distinguished this year, including 105 new ones in every region of France. With its exceptionally rich terroir, its culture of eating well and the know-how of its chefs handed down from generation to generation, France has more Bib Gourmand restaurants than any other country in the world. Michael ELLIS, International Director of MICHELIN guides, comments: “While crisscrossing the country, our inspectors have once again noted the increase, everywhere in France, of these small restaurants with short menus that promote simple cuisine, using reasonably priced, fresh and seasonal, high quality produce.”
Although there are Bib Gourmand restaurants all over France, some areas are particularly dynamic – for example the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region which has a total of 114 restaurants – 16 new – awarded a Bib Gourmand. These include La Flèche d’Argent in Royat near Clermont-Ferrand; La Maniguette in Chambéry, where the chef Christophe ROCHARD, notably trained at Troisgros, is supported in the dining room by his wife Audrey; and Maison Gambert, previously a farm in the Tain-l’Hermitage vineyards.
The Ile-de-France, the second largest region in France in terms of the number of Bib Gourmand establishments, has 75, including 16 new ones. For example Etsi, in the 18th arrondissement in Paris where chef Mikaela LIAROUTSOS serves food with Greek influences; Kisin in the heart of the 8th arrondissement in Paris offers Japanese cuisine specializing in udon noodles; Origins14 the new restaurant of the young British chef Ollie CLARKE who has taken over the former La Régalade; and Saperlipopette! the restaurant run by media chief Norbert TARAYRE in Puteaux. With three Bib Gourmand restaurants this year – Les Canailles Ménilmontant, Le Desnoyez and Le Jourdain – the 20th arrondissement is one of the capital’s most innovative neighbourhoods.
With 72 Bib Gourmand restaurants, Occitanie completes the trio of the most dynamic regions. 12 new restaurants have been included this year. For example Disini in Montpellier where the talented chef Delphine BORREWATER offers refined gourmet cuisine; Chez John in Ambres in the Tarn, run by the English chef John CURTIS; and Le Carré de l’Ange in Ariège near Saint-Girons.
Among the new restaurants selected in 2018, some have been opened by chefs that already have one or more stars and wish to complete their range by offering high quality, but more simple and affordable, food in addition to their gastronomic cuisine. This is the case at Le Jardin des Crayères in Reims supervised by chef Philippe MILLE; Le Bistrot, in Bonnétage (Franche-Comté), chef Jacques BARNACHON’s second restaurant; Le Bistrot du 11 in Versailles created by chef Jean-Baptiste LAVERGNE-MORAZZANI; Le Cottage at Chonas-l’Amballan near Vienne run by chef Philippe GIRARDON, and Le Café des Artistes in Ville d’Avray, which completes the gastronomic offer proposed at Les Etangs de Corot by chef Rémi CHAMBARD.
Established in 1997, the Bib Gourmand rewards restaurants that offer a reasonably priced high quality menu. These establishments offer a full meal (starter, main course, dessert) for a maximum of 33 euros in the provinces and 37 euros in Paris.
The MICHELIN guide Bib Gourmand France 2018 is now available on the site www.restaurant.michelin.fr