Metropole Hanoi Debuts Michelin-Star Lineup for 2nd ‘Culinary Stars’ Week
By Lifestyle+Travel
Leading culinary stars from around the world, boasting a total of 8 Michelin stars among them, will join the second edition of “Metropole Culinary Stars” from Oct. 6-13 at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi.
The eight-day culinary extravaganza, which follows last year’s highly successful inaugural event, will feature 18 internationally renowned chefs who will collaborate on a series of extraordinary and memorable meals at the Metropole Hanoi.
Michelin-starred chefs participating in this year’s event include: Jacques Pourcel (3-Michelin-star chef at Le Jardin des Sens in Montpellier, France), David Rathgeber (the chef-owner of Michelin-starred L’Assiette, one of Paris’ most sought-after bistros), Hervé Rodriguez (chef-owner of Michelin-starred MaSa restaurant in Paris), Jean-Baptiste Natali (youngest chef in France to earn a Michelin star when he was awarded one in 2002 at age 27), Raoul Meuwese (Chef de Cuisine of Michelin-starred Bridges at Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam) and Michael Dyllong (head chef of Michelin-starred Palmgarden in Dortmund, Germany).
The event will also spotlight other global culinary luminaries, including Dutch celebrities’ private chef (René van Empelen), a former winner of MasterChef of France (Didier Corlou), a scion of a cheese-making family that’s been in the business since 1880 (Patrice Marchand), the maître-chocolatier of the world’s longest-established chocolatier (Stéphane Bonnat), an author of 14 renowned cookbooks (Alain Caron), one of Asia’s top female chefs, according to the Michelin Guide (Vanessa Huang), the Master Baker of France (Bruno Dinel), and pastry master (Fabrice Danniel).
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi’s Executive Chef Paul Smart and his culinary team Aurélien Houguet, Nguyen Thanh Van and Raphael Kinimo will also bring their expertise to this much-anticipated event.
“Metropole Culinary Stars 2019 promises to be a truly remarkable event, as we bring together some of the world’s most celebrated chefs in a city whose culinary tradition is undisputed,” said William Haandrikman, the Metropole Hanoi’s General Manager.
Over eight days, starting on October 6, the event will include the following unique dining experiences:
Oct. 6: An all-you-can eat “angelina Sunday Brunch with the Stars” featuring delicious culinary creations, live chef stations, free-flow drinks and lively music provided by a DJ.
Oct. 7: A six-course “Exotic World of Spice” dinner in which each course is elevated by a different spice and paired with spice wines.
Oct. 8: A seven-course “Dinner to Remember from the Farm & the Sea” sourced with the freshest and finest ingredients from the fields and oceans.
Oct. 9: A six-course “Most Exclusive Wine Dinner” featuring luxurious ingredients and world-class Champagne and Grand Crus from five different wineries.
Oct. 10: There will be two main events this evening. First, is the “Trump-Kim Summit Four-Hands Dinner,” a special gastronomical journey with the two Metropole chefs who prepared the historic four-course menu.
The second is an “Extravagant Cheese & Wine Evening with Artisanal Bread” featuring more than 30 selections of Les Frères Marchand cheese served with artisanal bread.
Oct. 11: A “Metropole Culinary Showdown Dinner” in which 14 chefs go head-to-head in a 60-minute live cook-off, while guests savor a special four-course dinner menu.
Oct. 12: An “All Star Dinner” including an exquisite 9-course dinner menu from 10 of the top participating chefs.
Oct. 13: A “Magnifique Sunday Brunch” featuring nine live stations, as well as an opportunity to interact directly with the chefs.
All of the events are open to the public. The sponsors of Metropole Culinary Stars 2019 include two gold sponsors, Vietnam Airlines and Classic Fine Food; in-kind sponsors include Kaviari, Le Huitres Cadoret, Fargreen, Les Frères Marchand, Rougie, Matfer Bourgeat Vietnam, Clement Design, Giesser, Moet Hennessy, Daloc Fine Wines & Spirits, The Warehouse Asia, Red Apron Fine Wines & Spirits, Tan Khoa Wines & Spirits, Badoit, Evian and Annam Professional.
For more information or reservations, please contact +84 24 3826 6919 ext. 8200
By Lifestyle+Travel
29 Eateries In Thailand Win Michelin Stars For 2020
Michelin today announced the winners of MICHELIN Star and Bib Gourmand distinctions; together with the official launch of the third edition of The MICHELIN Guide in Thailand, entitled The MICHELIN Guide Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket & Phang-Nga 2020. Featured in this latest edition are 282 dining and 74 lodging establishments – with a total of 5 two-star, 24 one-star, and 94 Bib Gourmand eateries. Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of MICHELIN Guides, revealed: “This year, the locavore movement, or the use of locally-sourced ingredients, are becoming the true stars of Thailand’s foodscape. The trend indicates Thailand’s rich diversity and high quality of local produce. In addition, we see the glorious rise of traditional Thai cuisine, as – for the first time ever globally – two traditional Thai restaurants, both promoted from one star, are on The MICHELIN Guide’s two-star list.” The 2020 MICHELIN Guide selection welcomes two new additions to the two-star category: R-Haan, where food captures the authentic essence of both regional and royal Thai cuisine, using fresh, high-quality ingredients from all over the country; and Sorn, a restaurant with a focus on long lost recipes and the art of Southern Thai cuisine, using ingredients sustainably sourced from a trusted network of farmers and fishermen, as well as refined and sophisticated cooking techniques. Both restaurants have been promoted from their previous one-star rating. Three two-star restaurants – namely, Le Normandie, Mezzaluna, and Sühring – have retained their distinction. Of the 24 one-star establishments in this latest edition, Khao, a restaurant offering traditional Thai dishes that pay tribute to locality, is the only one promoted from a MICHELIN Plate to one-star status; while three are completely new entries. These three new entries are: Chef’s Table, a restaurant serving contemporary French menu, using premium quality ingredients, curated by chef from a 3-MICHELIN Star restaurant; 80/20, where its imaginative contemporary Thai cuisine is a result of the perfect fusion between the best local ingredients and internationally refined cooking techniques; and Table 38, a chef’s table restaurant with very limited seating, serving reinterpreted and updated Thai street food and ancient dishes. In addition, it is of note that all previous one-star holders that are still in business, retained their status - including PRU, the only one-star restaurant in Phuket. As for the Bib Gourmand list, a total of 94 establishments are featured, 61 of which are located in Bangkok, 17 in Chiang Mai, 14 in Phuket, and 2 in Phang-Nga. Chiang Mai emerges in its very first year covered by The MICHELIN Guide, with an impressive number of Bib Gourmand eateries. Among them are Ginger Farm Kitchen, a restaurant specializing in Northern Thai food that embraces a farm-to-table concept with most produce coming from its own farm; Huan Soontaree, where authentic fare made with high-quality local ingredients is what makes this place a great dining spot; and Khao Soi Mae Manee, a well-known street food vendor serving the iconic Khao Soi (egg noodles in coconut-based curry broth) for over 30 years. TWO STARS Excellent cuisine, worth a detour. Bangkok & SURROUNDING PROVINCES Le Normandie Mezzaluna R-Haan ♦ Sorn ♦ Sühring ONE STAR High quality cooking, worth a stop. Bangkok & SURROUNDING PROVINCES 80/20 ♦ Bo.lan Canvas Chef’s Table ♦ Chim by Siam Wisdom Elements Gaa Ginza Sushi ichi J'AIME by Jean-Michel Lorain Jay Fai Khao ♦ Le Du Methavalai Sorndaeng Nahm Paste Ruean Panya Saawaan Saneh Jaan Savelberg Sra Bua by Kiin