A New Michelin Recognition for Restaurants—Beyond Culinary Mastery

For years, food enthusiasts have relied on the Michelin Guide for dining recommendations, utilizing its esteemed one-, two-, and three-star ratings, along with the Bib Gourmand award for outstanding food at great prices, to uncover the finest eateries around the globe. Now, Michelin aims to assist travelers in discovering not just delicious cuisine but also dishes that benefit our planet through the Michelin Green Star.

What is the Michelin Green Star?

Launched in 2020, the Michelin Green Star honors restaurants pioneering the path in sustainable gastronomy. Each Green Star establishment is unique in its approach, yet all share a commitment to reducing environmental impact through practices such as minimizing single-use items, emphasizing seasonal and local produce, and partnering with eco-conscious farmers, foragers, ranchers, and suppliers. This includes both small local collaborators and global sponsors like Rémy Martin, known for its sustainably crafted spirits available at numerous Green Star venues. Many of these restaurants also engage in charitable efforts and community projects. Notably, restaurants can earn a Green Star without having received Michelin stars.

Characteristics of a Michelin Green Star restaurant

One crisp, sunny morning this past October, I ventured to a Northern California farm to witness the journey of earning a Michelin Green Star. Unlike the surrounding Sonoma County hills blanketed in vineyards, this farm featured the last autumn tomatoes ripening on one side, while rows of tiny cabbage seedlings began to emerge on the other, a vivid display of nature’s transition from warmth to chill.

Managed by the acclaimed three-Michelin starred restaurant SingleThread, this farm is the genesis of many dishes, often defying traditional notions of seasonality. 'We typically think of tomatoes as a summer staple,' remarks Katina Connaughton, one half of the farmer/chef couple at the helm, 'yet here we are in October and they’re still thriving.' The menu, crafted by chef Kyle Connaughton, evolves daily based on the farm's offerings, reflecting subtle variations in what's available.

That day, the season's final tomatoes were destined for our plates that evening, prepared as a confit alongside sea bream and artichoke ragout, complemented by a dish featuring cool-weather cabbage, duck, and baby corn. As always, every ingredient in the elaborate 11-course meal was either cultivated on their farm, located seven miles from the restaurant, or sourced from like-minded partners dedicated to sustainable practices.

The farm serves as more than just a food supplier for the restaurant; it’s a vital space where Katina and Kyle train young chefs in the kitchen about sustainability and the origins of food. Through this educational experience, they aim to motivate future chefs to be mindful about ingredient sourcing and to shift away from the expectation of having access to any ingredient at any time.

This dedication to both culinary excellence and environmental responsibility earned SingleThread its Michelin Green Star in 2020, in addition to its three Michelin stars (which it retained in 2022). Together, these accolades highlight their unwavering commitment to both gastronomy and sustainability.

Other restaurants that have received a Michelin Green Star

Since the Green Star was introduced in 2020, SingleThread is not alone in its achievement. By the end of 2022, a total of 426 restaurants had been awarded this distinction, including several others in California such as the French Laundry, Atelier Crenn, Chez Panisse, and Harbor House Inn.

Globally, prominent restaurants recognized with a Michelin Green Star include noma in Copenhagen, Denmark, Arpège in Paris, France, Azurmendi in Larrabetzu, Spain, and Kashiwaya in Osaka, Japan.

Currently, there are 58 Bib Gourmand restaurants that also possess a Michelin Green Star, including notable places like Kai in Galway, Ireland, and Ma Cuisine in Tokyo, Japan. Some establishments hold only a Green Star without any other Michelin accolades, such as Hærværk in Aarhus, Denmark, and Petersham Nurseries Café in London, U.K.

If you’re looking to dine well and support eco-conscious chefs on your next trip, you can easily find restaurants awarded a Michelin Green Star by visiting its website and choosing 'Michelin Green Star' in the 'distinction' filter.