Michelin Guide Seoul 2021 Published
Shilla Hotel La Yeon & Gwangjuyo Group Gaon
3 Stars Maintained This Year
Four New 1-Star Restaurants Appear
[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] The globally prestigious restaurant rating and guidebook, the 'Michelin Guide,' has evaluated that despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic this year, the level of restaurants in downtown Seoul has risen to a higher standard. In particular, Korean restaurants Gaon and La Yeon maintained their 3-star status from last year, and four new 1-star restaurants have emerged.
Renowned for Meticulous Service and 'Taste of Korea'
Michelin Korea announced on the 19th through the online live broadcast of the 'Michelin Guide Seoul 2021' publication event that La Yeon at Shilla Hotel Seoul and Gaon of the Gwangjuyo Group received 3 stars. This marks the 5th edition of the Michelin Guide Seoul.
Gaon and La Yeon maintained their 3-star ratings this year as well. Gaon offers the taste of traditional Korean cuisine uniquely interpreted by Chef Kim Byung-jin in a cozy and elegant space. The outstanding cuisine is notable for intuitively incorporating ingredients. La Yeon at Shilla Hotel shows delicacy in tableware and meticulous service, and the modern Korean cuisine led by Chef Kim Sung-il has reached a new level with high-quality wine pairings.
Four restaurants newly earned the Michelin 1-star rating. Chef Kim Dae-cheon of Seven's Door focuses on fermentation and aging to present profound and ambitious dishes. The preparation process of modern Korean cuisine is a gourmet journey toward seven flavors: the five basic tastes, the sixth taste achieved through fermentation and aging, and finally, the seventh taste completed by the chef's sensibility.
La Mange Secr?te, located on the 26th floor?the top floor of the L'Escape Hotel?is a space inspired by Parisian sensibility with a secretive atmosphere. Chef Son Jong-won, who gained experience in the United States, stated that this place pursues 'Korean-style Western cuisine.' It creates fresh yet familiar dishes, and the mutual respect between producers supplying good ingredients and the kitchen is conveyed to the guests.
Muni, situated in the glamorous back alleys of Cheongdam-dong, is operated by Chef Kim Dong-wook, who studied in Japan and holds a sake sommelier certification. It is a place where you can taste passionate yet skilled traditional Japanese cuisine. Mitou, where you can meet Chefs Kim Bo-mi and Kwon Young-woon who share warm communication, offers delicate and creative omakase dishes made by changing fresh seasonal ingredients.
Two 'Michelin Green Stars'... 'The Godmother of Korean Cuisine' Also Awarded
This year, the Michelin Guide introduced a new honor called the 'Michelin Green Star.' The Michelin Green Star highlights the efforts of restaurants and chefs practicing sustainable gastronomy at the forefront and aims to widely promote their vision. For the first time this year, two restaurants were selected for the Michelin Green Star.
Hwanggeum Kongbat is a restaurant that uses the freshest local ingredients, including beef and legumes from the Sobaeksan region, pork from Jeju, and fish caught at Ikki Island in Tongyeong. Ingredients are procured through direct transactions with local producers, and tofu and kimchi are prepared fresh daily. Leftover soybean pulp is provided as farm feed to minimize food waste.
Flower, Bapepida sources 95% of its ingredients through direct transactions with farms. It carefully selects only those that have obtained organic processing and eco-friendly certifications, animal welfare compliance, pesticide-free cultivation, and biodynamic certification. Moreover, it leads the supply of eco-friendly ingredients such as organic rice from Bonghwa Village in Gyeongbuk and traditional soybean paste and soy sauce from Geochang in Gyeongnam through its own eco-friendly cultivation.
The Michelin Mentor Chef Award was given to Chef Jo Hee-sook, known as the 'Godmother of Korean Cuisine.' Having built her reputation through the Grand Intercontinental Seoul, Shilla Hotel, and the Korean Embassy in the U.S., Chef Jo Hee-sook opened her own restaurant, Hansik Gonggan, where she presents traditional Korean dishes reinterpreted with a modern dining sensibility. She is especially passionate about passing on her experience and knowledge to young chefs through university lectures and other means.
Meanwhile, the 2021 selection includes 2 three-star restaurants, 7 two-star restaurants, and 23 one-star restaurants, totaling 178 restaurants including 60 Bib Gourmand and 86 Plate restaurants. Four new 1-star restaurants were added, three of which were promoted from Plate to 1-star.
The selection process for the Michelin Guide 2021 began in 2019 before the coronavirus crisis started. Despite various challenges such as safety and hygiene, this 2021 selection has become richer with newly starred restaurants. The total number of restaurants selected remains the same as the previous year, but the number of starred restaurants has increased.
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