The 2021 ceremony for the Michelin Guide France was out of the ordinary this year. For the first time in its history, the red guide winners were unveiled online, via a Youtube video broadcast from the Eiffel Tower.

For Gwendal Poullennec, international director of Michelin Guides, it was impossible to publish a "white list" despite the exceptional situation. For months, he has mobilised his teams to adapt to the health crisis. "Our inspectors have adapted their leave during the closing periods to be in the field during opening hours and to make as many meals as in previous years", he commented, ensuring a guide whose "quality is the same as usual" to honour these restaurateurs who have been fighting for nearly a year for their survival. "We can't wait to go back to the restaurant," he added.

Michelin Guide France 2021

Alexandre Mazzia is Awarded 3 Stars

Credit: Benjamin Béchet

Alexandre Mazzia, the chef from AM par Alexandre Mazzia in Marseille, learned that he had won his third Michelin-star live during the 2021 ceremony. "It's a cuisine that has reached a milestone in less than two years," said Gwendal Poullennec, before launching a video bringing together the other current three-star chefs, all applauding the Marseille chef.

"I am very moved. I think of my wife, of Marco my second, who is more of a brother in arms, and of my team. Today I am proud to say that I am a cook," said Mazzia.

Pierre Hermé and Pierre Gagnaire even made the trip to greet Mazzia. "I knew him as a trainee and I am not at all surprised by this third star," said Hermé. "I don't visit my colleagues a lot, for lack of time," said Gagnaire. "But what touches me about Alexandre is the man, his emotion, it's extraordinary. He cooks a cuisine that I feel close to. He doesn't forbid himself anything, he defends a cuisine which only he can do. It goes all over the place and something is really happening. When you know the commitment, it's an incredible step."

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2 New Two-Star Restaurants

“This year, our inspectors were won over by two restaurants which both enhance their terroir,” said Gwendall Poullenec.

The first is chef Hélène Darroze's Marsan in Paris. "I say bravo to my teams, all those who have worked with me on Marsan but also on the other restaurants," said Darroze. "It is not always an easy job for a woman but you have to live your passion and especially not let it pass," she added, to encourage young women into the industry.

The second is La Merise restaurant in Laubach, by chef Cédric Deckert: "It's a total surprise,", said the chef, visibly moved. "We try to honour our terroir, our local products, our suppliers. I am deeply convinced that the character of a chef is reflected in the plate."

All the New One Stars: 54 Restaurants

This year, 54 restaurants won their first star in the Michelin Guide, "a highlight in the life of a restaurant, which is part of this great family of talents who make the reputation of world gastronomy," the director of the guides said. Here are the 54 new one-star restaurants:

Aix-en-Provence (13) Mickaël Féval
Angoulême (16) Les Sources de Fontbelle
Annecy (74) La Rotonde des Trésoms
Annecy (74) Restaurant Vincent Favre Félix
Antibes / Cap d’Antibes (06) Louroc
Avignon (84) Pollen
Azay-le-Rideau (37) Auberge Pom’Poire
Bassin d’Arcachon / Arès (33) ONA
La Baule (44) Castel Marie-Louise
Bordeaux (33) L’Observatoire du Gabriel
Boulleret (18) L’Ardoise du Marché
Cellettes (41) La Vieille Tour
Chantilly / St-Maximin (60) Le Verbois
Châteauneuf-du-Pape (84) La Mère Germaine
Cognac (16) Les Foudres
Dijon (21) Cibo
Drusenheim (67) Au Gourmet
Étretat (76) Le Donjon – Domaine Saint-Clair
Fleurie (69) Auberge du Cep
Fondettes (37) L’Opidom
Gex (01) La Table de la Mainaz
Grenoble (38) Le Fantin Latour – Stéphane Froidevaux
Lille (59) Le Cerisier
Lyon (69) Miraflores
Lyon (69) Rustique
Malataverne (26) Le Domaine du Colombier
Manosque (04) Le Bistronomique
Marseille (13) Signature
Mazan (84) La Salle à Manger du Château de Mazan
Monaco - La Table d’Antonio Salvatore au Rampoldi
Montpellier (34) Leclere
Montpellier (34) Pastis
Montpellier (34) Reflet d’Obione
Nantes (44) Roza
Nantes / Carquefou (44) Le Manoir de la Régate
Nice (06) Les Agitateurs
Nîmes (30) Duende
Paris 2e - Pantagruel
Paris 2e - Shabour
Paris 7e - Gaya par Pierre Gagnaire
Paris 8e - Trente-Trois
Paris 14e - MoSuke
Paris 17e - Oxte
Pont-Aven (29) Moulin de Rosmadec
Pont-du-Château (63) Auberge du Pont
Rueil-Malmaison (92) Ochre
Saint-Tropez (83) Colette
Salon-de-Provence (13) Villa Salone
Schiltigheim (67) Les Plaisirs Gourmands
Strasbourg (67) Au Crocodile
Théoule-sur-Mer (06) L’Or Bleu
Tignes (73) Le Panoramic
Uchaux (84) Château de Massillan
La Wantzenau (67) Le Jardin Secret

The Green Star

Since last year, inspectors have also been selecting restaurants that work towards sustainable gastronomy by awarding them a green star. All types of establishments can win this green star, from bistros to gourmet restaurants.

This year, 33 new restaurants were awarded the star, in addition to the 50 already distinguished last year.

The Michelin Guide's Special Awards

Promoting a Passion for Dessert

This year, eleven pastry chefs throughout France received this distinction, which highlights the creativity of the dessert menu in the greatest restaurants in France:

Cédric Perret, Le Clair de la Plume (Grignan)
Simon Pacary, La Table de Franck Putelat (Carcassonne)
Pierre Chirac, La Scène – Stéphanie Le Quellec (Paris)
Sébastien Paris, Les Morainières (Jongieux)
Morgane Raimbaud, Alliance (Paris)
Anne Coruble, L’Oiseau Blanc (Péninsula Paris)
Ayumi Sugiyama, Accents Table Bourse (Paris)
Maëlle Bruguera, Le Art (Château de la Gaude)
Max Martin, Restaurant Yoann Conte (Veyrier du Lac)
Yannick Piotrovski, La Magdeleine – Mathias Dandine (Gémenos)
Aymeric Pinard, La Côte d’Or (Saulieu)