The F&B industry across the world has been gradually transitioning to sustainable practices, including several upscale and luxury eateries. So much so that the iconic red star given by the Michelin Guide that restaurants used to aspire for may soon be replaced by green ones.
The famed Michelin Guide is creating annual rankings of the world's greenest restaurants, honouring chefs who care about the environment with green stars, in addition to their prized red ones. Expect to read more about stories of restaurants that have a strong impact on the environment. From three-MICHELIN-starred Mirazur's permaculture gardens to David Toutain's collaborations with environmentally conscious producers and craftsmen and Bertrand Grébaut's bio-waste recycling programme at one-starred Septime, the efforts of chefs and restaurateurs to adopt more sustainable practices in their kitchens will be on Michelin's radars.
As the Guide says, "The new MICHELIN Sustainable Gastronomy emblem is available to chefs whose establishments have the Plate or Bib Gourmand distinctions or 1, 2 or 3 stars. It complements these distinctions and celebrates their courage and ingenuity in the daily practice of their profession."
Gourmands frequently go to the Michelin Guide for guidance on where to discover the world's best fine-dining experiences. Earlier, Michelin inspectors would look at distinctiveness, invention, novelty, and gastronomic perfection as the factors for possible winners of stars. Now, apart from these, they will look at practices in a restaurant that are good for the planet.