In news that shook the global culinary world, world-renowned chef Guy Savoy lost a Michelin star after maintaining the top three-star status for two decades, since 2002. Savoy was crowned "Best Chef in the World" for the sixth consecutive year in November 2022 by La Liste and held three Michelin stars for his eponymous Savoy restaurant in Monnaie de Paris overlooking the Seine. However, the revered Michelin guide announced on Monday that it was downgrading its status to 2 stars. This change will be reflected in the latest edition of the guide, which will be published next week, the Michelin Group confirmed in a statement on Monday.
"These are exceptional restaurants, so you can imagine that these decisions are carefully considered, supported by numerous visits from our inspectors throughout the year," Gwendal Poullennec, head of the Michelin guide, told AFP. "For such important decisions, we include not just French inspectors but also some from other countries," added Poullennec.
AFP reports that downgrading restaurants is always a highly controversial decision, particularly following the suicide of Bernard Loiseau 20 years ago. Loiseau was a close friend of Savoy and took his own life after his restaurant lost a star. Chef Savoy was informed of the Michelin guide's decision in a private discussion with Poullennec, in which Christopher Coutanceau, whose marine-themed restaurant in La Rochelle is also being demoted, participated.
Savoy, who began training to be a chef in 1968 at the age of 15, owns four other restaurants in Paris and another flagship restaurant in his name at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. He has also trained many of the biggest names in global gastronomy, including Gordon Ramsay, who calls Savoy his "culinary mentor."
The Michelin Guide has not downgraded any restaurants since 2019, considering the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the hospitality sector. However, the guide says downgrades are now necessary if it is to stay relevant, according to AFP. Around 20 French restaurants have also been downgraded from two to one star in the latest edition of the Michelin guide, and they are in the process of contacting other restaurants that will have stars removed. But the guide said the ratings are "in no way permanent" and are reassessed yearly by their inspection teams.