Seventh Paris restaurant wins three Michelin stars

Paris restaurant Le Grand Véfour has been awarded a third Michelin star, making it the seventh three-star restaurant in the French capital.

Chef Guy Martin joins France's three-star brigade in the latest French guide, launched in the UK on Tuesday.

There are 23 three-star restaurants in France.

Other three-star restaurants in Paris include Lucas-Carton, Taillevent and Alain Ducasse.

Ducasse, who had six stars - three at Alain Ducasse in Paris and three at Louis XV in Monte Carlo - has been awarded another star at his restaurant Bar et Boeuf in Monaco, bringing his total to seven.

Seventy restaurants have been awarded two stars, including four newcomers.

Seven have lost their two-star status, including Jean Bardet in Tours, which has been removed from the guide. In December its owners, Jean and Sophie Bardet, were fined almost £3,000 for passing off various items offood and drink as their own and selling them at inflated prices (www.thecaterer.com, 22 December 1999).

A total of 407 restaurants have one star, with 40 newcomers including Neat, the Cannes retaurant run by British chef Richard Neat.

Forty have been downgraded, including La Chanceliäre in Montbazon, near Tours, whose owner, Jean-Luc Hatet, asked Michelin to take his star away because he is simplifying the menu (Caterer, 24 February, page 8).

It has become one of 496 restaurants with a Bib Gourmand.

The guide also features a 100 symbol, marking its 100th anniversary this year.

The symbol identifies 116 restaurants that were listed in the first guide in 1900 and are still in it today. by Louise Bozec

Source: Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine, 2 -8 March 2000