Here at The Staff Canteen, we attempted to pick out the most quirky, most astonishing, and most mesmerising Michelin-starred restaurants in the world.
A Michelin star is a huge nod to not only a restaurant’s chef, but to its whole staff. To be able to visit one is always a treat, if not a mind-bending experience for your taste buds. But picking which Michelin starred restaurants we would like to visit the most is no easy task. They all promise a superb culinary experience, however, which of these star-studded restaurants go beyond the culinary?
In the city of fashion, Milan, Joia is dedicated to gourmet vegetarian fine dining. Chef-owner Pietro Leemann made a home for all, as Michelin starred Joia returns to nature and reaps what is given by nature. Healthy eating is paramount at Joia, so your dietary needs will definitely be met.
Located in Chateau de Berne in the southern part of France, right between Marseille and Nice, this 5-star hotel and spa is not only a luxurious holiday destination, but an open vineyard as well. A tour of the estate and winery will get you ready for the amazing gourmet experience in Michelin starred Le Jardin de Benjamin by chef owner Benjamin Collombat.
On the northern Spanish coastline, chef owner Eneko Atxa made sure that Azurmendi won’t be your regular Michelin starred restaurant. It’s not a regular restaurant, either. The experience starts in Azurmendi’s green house and vegetable garden, where most of the restaurant’s produce comes from! Throughout the tour, you are served with nibbles and treats, and the way to your table is through the chef’s open kitchen!
In the Mediterranean Sea, chef ownerTomeu Caldentey’s Bou is the first Majorcan restaurant to earn a Michelin star. Here dinner is not just time spent at a table, nor is it any regular restaurant experience. Dinner at Bou is an invitation to head chef Andrés Benítez's kitchen to sit and chat. Be served by the chefs with small nibbles prepared right in front of you. At the table, take a seat with no preconceived ideas – you’re in for a surprise.
Aside from serving Eiichi Takahashi’s, 14th generation owner and chef, excellent traditional cuisine, Hyotei is a restaurant that has a 400 year old history. Famous for their tea and light lunches, Michelin starred Hyotei is still serving its signature semi-soft boiled quail eggs, but it manages to stay relevant by infusing the modern with the traditional. Hyotei, surrounded by an old pine forest, is almost like a site locked in a time-capsule in Kyoto, inviting you to step in.
Shoukouwa **
Emmanuel Stroobant’s Michelin starred Shoukouwa
When looking for the greatest sushi experience, chef-owner Emmanuel Stroobant’s Shoukouwa in Singapore is the ultimate expert in the culture of sushi consumption. If you’re lucky, you might be able to snatch one of the eight seats right in front of Michelin-starred chef Masakazu Ishibashi, and see him at work. Using fresh ingredients, imported daily, you will be presented with the best produce and the purest flavours!
Ultraviolet **
Paul Pairet's Michelin starred Ultraviolet photo by Scott Wright of Limelight Studio
Somewhere in Shanghai (literally), Ultraviolet by chef-owner Paul Pairet is a purpose-built restaurant and kitchen, that only seats ten! The immersive dining experience is not just about the exquisite Michelin starred 20-course meal, but it’s about the surroundings as well! The projections on the wall and the background music are all part of the experience that stimulates all your senses and your psyche.
In the heart of Sao Paulo, two Michelin-starred chef ownerAlex Atala revolutionised Brazilian cuisine. D.O.M takes inspiration from the Amazonian territories and uses new and rare ingredients that have not been used in cooking before, such as the aromatic root priprioca and the heart of palm pupunha palmetto. So whoever you are, D.O.M. sure has something exciting to offer.
José Andrés's Michelin starred Minibar - photo by Ken Wyner
Now featured in the Michelin Guide Washington 2017, Minibar by multiple restaurant owner and head chef José Andrés in Washington DC serves experimental dishes inspired by art and science. Dining at the Minibar is not only exhilarating for your tastebuds but also for all your other senses. From see-through dishes to smokey spectacles, Minibar certainly earned its stars.
This beautiful Californian estate complete with several gardens and a pool has been holding a Michelin star since 2008! The menu is inspired by the garden and local produce, which head chef Jesse Mallgren picks out and cooks on the same day. The fine dining is complete with original cocktails made by the in-house mixologist Pam Bushling. What a way to enjoy California!
Do you agree with our list? What’s your most quirky Michelin star experience?
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