Michelin has unveiled the new Bib Gourmand selection for France, a couple of weeks ahead of the release of the 2018 Michelin Guide France.
The inspectors selected a total of 644 restaurants this year that offer great value-for-money cuisine. They include 105 new establishments located in every region of France. With its exceptionally rich terroir, its culture of eating well, and the expertise of its chefs, France has more Bib Gourmand restaurants than any other country in the world.
Michael Ellis, International Director of Michelin guides, comments: “While crisscrossing the country, our inspectors have once again noted the increase, everywhere in France, of these small restaurants with short menus that promote simple cuisine, using reasonably priced, fresh and seasonal, high quality produce.”
Although there are Bib Gourmand restaurants all over France, some regions are particularly dynamic. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region boasts a total of 114 Bib Gourmand restaurants, 61 of which are new entrants. They include La Flèche d’Argent in Royat near Clermont-Ferrand; La Maniguette in Chambéry, by chef Christophe Rochard, notably trained at Troisgros; and Maison Gambert, previously a farm in the Tain-l’Hermitage vineyards.
Ile-de-France, the second-largest region in France in terms of the number of Bib Gourmand establishments, has 75, including 16 new ones. They include Etsi, in the 18th arrondissement in Paris, where chef Mikaela Liaroutsos serves Greek-influenced cuisine; Kisin, in the 8th arrondissement, which specializes in udon noodles; Origins14, a new restaurant by the young British chef Ollie Clarke who has taken over the former La Régalade; and Saperlipopette! run by celebrity chef Norbert Tarayre in Puteaux. With three Bib Gourmand restaurants this year, including Les Canailles Ménilmontant, Le Desnoyez, and Le Jourdain, the 20th arrondissement is counted among the capital’s most innovative neighborhoods.
With 72 Bib Gourmand restaurants, including 12 new entrants, Occitanie completes the trio of the most dynamic regions. They include Disini in Montpellier, where Chef Delphine Borrewater offers refined gourmet cuisine; Chez John in Ambres, Tarn, run by the English chef John Curtis; and Le Carré de l’Ange in Ariège near Saint-Girons.
Some of the new entrants this year are run by celebrated chefs with one or more stars already under their belt. Their new restaurants are a more approachable extension of their fine-dining establishments that offer high-quality cuisine that is more simple and affordable. Such is the case at Le Jardin des Crayères in Reims supervised by chef Philippe Mille; Le Bistrot, in Bonnétage (Franche-Comté), chef Jacques Barnachon’s second restaurant; Le Bistrot du 11 in Versailles created by chef Jean-Baptiste Lavergne-Morazzani; Le Cottage at Chonas l’Amballan by chef Philippe Girardon; and Le Café des Artistes in Ville d’Avray, which completes the gastronomic experience offered at Les Etangs de Corot by chef Rémi Chambard.
The Bib Gourmand is awarded to restaurants that offer a reasonably priced, high-quality menu. These establishments offer a three-course meal for a maximum of €33 in the provinces and €37 in Paris.
Check out the full Bib Gourmand France selection here.
Published 2018.01.16
