(AFP) - The Michelin Guide announced Monday a surprising decision to downgrade Guy Savoie's restaurant, one of the world's most famous chefs, from three stars to two.
Since 2002, the 69-year-old Savoy has been awarded a three-star rating, the highest rating given by the guide, for his restaurant located in the "La Money de Paris" building in Paris, overlooking the Seine River.
The Savoie restaurant has a second branch at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
In November, the French chef's restaurant topped the "La List" list of the best restaurants in the world, for the sixth time.
In addition, the guide, in its latest version, expected to be announced next Monday, downgraded the rating of Chef Christopher Cotanso's restaurant in La Rochelle.
"These two restaurants are very special, so the decision to downgrade them was carefully studied before it was made, in addition to taking into account the visits made by specialists from the guide to the two restaurants throughout the year," Michelin guide director Gwendal Pollenec told AFP.
The reasons behind the decisions will not be publicly disclosed, but will only be communicated to the chefs involved.
"In such decisions, we do not only rely on the opinions of French specialists, but we also take into account what others say from other countries," Poulenc added.
Reducing the rating of restaurants usually raises widespread controversy, especially after the suicide of Bernard Loiseau, a close friend of Savoie, 20 years ago after his restaurant lost one star in the rating.
In its highly anticipated release Monday, the Michelin Guide downgraded some twenty French restaurants from two stars to one.
Due to the difficulties faced by restaurants due to the COVID-19 pandemic, since 2019 the Michelin Guide has not downgraded any restaurant.
However, the challenges continued for restaurants, which are now facing a shortage of employees and an increase in prices.
However, the Michelin Guide confirmed that downgrading ratings is necessary. "Yes, there are challenges, but everyone faces them," Polinek said.