The Michelin Green Star -Luxury Restaurants for Sustainable Travellers
If you are a fan of fine dining, the Michelin Guide is your bible. Culinary artistry and sensory indulgence intertwine to create an unparalleled experience. Michelin-starred restaurants are the epitome of excellence, tantalising both the taste buds and the soul. For foodie travellers they represent the highlight of a visit to a destination. Food tourism is a fast growing business, and scoring a table at the most prized establishments can be tricky.
For chefs aiming at the stars, the road is long and arduous. To earn a first coveted star, then perhaps a second and third, is tough enough, but then to maintain standards each year requires dedication of the extreme kind. As entrepreneurs, both Maral and I get inspired by this type of zeal. Therefore, we make a point out of selecting a restaurant from the guide on special occasions. On a recent anniversary we ate at Koka in Gothenburg, specialised on Western Swedish cuisine. Don’t expect meat, the menus are seafood and vegetable oriented with 90% organic produce. Relax in a cosy but modern atmosphere where dishes combine playfulness and sophistication. I thought the yellowfin tuna was to die for and still talk about it.
With each meticulously crafted dish, Michelin-starred restaurants embrace the essence of luxury, transforming ingredients into culinary masterpieces. However, the fine dining guide is not only about luxurious establishments and pricey menus. With increasing intensity, a commitment to sustainable practices rules the kitchens. Environmental stewardship comes in the form of tight relationships with local farmers and artisans dedicated to quality and ethics. Organic and seasonal produce not only elevates the experience but also supports nearby communities while reducing carbon footprints. Hence, the restaurants become destination in themselves, helping to attract luxury travellers with a green bent.
Delight in line-caught seafood, harvested with the utmost respect for marine ecosystems. Take in rich aromas of heirloom vegetables, nurtured with love in eco-gardens that prioritise biodiversity and soil health. With every bite, luxury and sustainability come intertwined. Demand from more conscious diners, coupled with chefs that want to convey a deep reverence for the food, has resulted in an innovation at the Michelin Guide. First unveiled in 2020, it remains unknown to a wider audience – The Michelin Green Star.
Luxury restaurants go green
The guide awards the Green Star to restaurants at the forefront of the sustainable dining revolution. This implies strong relationships with ethical suppliers, robust systems to deal with waste and plastic in their operations and often commitments to work with charitable causes related to food. They also need to be adept at communicating their effort towards guests. Circular thinking is critical to eating sustainably and is exemplified by modern chefs involved in regenerative gardening, growing plants, foraging, and rearing animals.
No restaurant is the same and each works distinct to their circumstances, for example, Noma in Copenhagen, a three star establishment with an additional green star. Chef René Redzepi started the foundation MAD, which inspires and empowers cooks, servers, and foodies to create sustainable change.
Another sustainability leader is the restaurant at Fotografiska, a photography museum in Stockholm, housed in an old warehouse by the water. Led by chef Paul Svensson, a well-known circular food advocate, the establishment places plants at the forefront of its menu. Innovative and beautiful dishes dazzle as you take in the views of the Venice of the North.
The Michelin Green Star recognises the role of these sustainable pioneers as agents of change. By leading by example, they inspire fellow chefs, restaurateurs, and diners to embrace sustainability as an integral part of the gastronomic experience, setting a new norm. Their culinary creations transcend mere sustenance, fostering a deeper connection to the natural realm. It celebrates the symbiotic relationship between food and the environment, a reminder that our choices as patrons shape a better, greener world.
You can locate the green stars in the guide, either through the website or the app, meaning you’re guaranteed a luxury experience. No longer is it necessary to choose between hedonism and sustainability. At least not at high-end restaurants.
Which is your favourite Michelin star restaurant? Have you been to a Green Star? Let us know in the comment section! Don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter and benefit from travel tips, interviews, and inspirational examples of deep travel and sustainable tourism.
