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Two new restaurants entered the upper eschelons of fine dining this week, each receiving three stars each in the newly released Michelin Guide to France: Villa Madie, a Mediterranean restaurant located in Cassis, a fishing port in the South of France, and Plénitude - Cheval Blanc Paris, a new restaurant opened on the first floor of the eponymous hotel just six months ago.
Three stars are awarded to only the very best restaurants, with less than 150 restaurants worldwide currently attaining this highest of all badges of achievement, which is awarded for 'exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey,’ according to the Michelin Guide.
Take a closer look at the two new three star restaurants below.
Plénitude - Cheval Blanc Paris
On 22 March, Arnaud Donckele was awarded three stars by the Red Guide for his restaurant Plénitude - Cheval Blanc Paris. The chef, who has held three stars at La Vague d'Or in Saint-Tropez since 2013, plus five toques and a score of 19/20 by Gault & Millau, has run the restaurant located on the first floor of Cheval Blanc Paris hotel since September 2021. In just six months, the exceptional restaurant has gone from zero to three stars. The ultimate distinction, which was welcomed by an emotional chef during the 2022 ceremony held in Cognac in the presence of the France's gastronomic greats.
Surprised by the speed of this achievement, he wanted to thank his teams and his family: “These stars are more theirs than mine,” he said.
The understated and well respected chef, winner of Best Chef in the World 2019, impresses at Plénitude with his precise and generous work, which demonstrate a rare accuracy. Juices, vinaigrettes and sauces are the protagonists of the chef's culinary offering which he executes with great finesse. As for desserts, we find the delicious creations of pastry chef Maxime Frédéric, who this year won one of the 'Promotion Passion Dessert' awards from the Michelin Guide.
If you haven't had the chance to visit Plénitude – Cheval Blanc Paris yet, step inside below:
Arnaud Donckele & Bertrand Noeureuil by Laurent Dupont
Cheval Blanc Dining Room at Plénitude by Vincent Leroux
Palombe Jus Mauresque © Richard Haughton
Partition Maraîchère 1er service © Richard Haughton
Gambon 2e service Velours Chopin Carmin © Richard Haughton
Turbot Bouillon Ode à l'iode © Richard Haughton
Sabayon Borgnes pour Rouget © Richard Haughton
Dessert - Composition satinée et pectinée © Richard Haughton
La Villa Madie
Located in Cassis, the second restaurant to win three stars this year is La Villa Madie, run by the couple Dimitri and Marielle Droisneau since 2013: a restaurant that puts the taste of the south on the plate, with meticulous precision and unparalleled hospitality.
In love with the magical setting that hosts their restaurant, they thanked their teams during the award ceremony, but also Arnaud Donckele for having "suggested" the exceptional place to them nine years ago.
Norman at heart, chef Dimitri Droisneau is now one of the leaders of Mediterranean gastronomy. At La Villa Madie, together with his wife Marielle, he brings to life a cuisine shaped by fresh and sunny flavours in Cassis.
See the couple and La Villa Madie and dish below:
Dimitri et Murielle Droisneau by Evan De Sousa
La Villa Madie by Evan De Sousa
A dish at La Villa Madie by Evan De Sousa
