Despite the labor shortage so often decried, restaurateurs do not hesitate to launch new projects. This is what we will see from the outset of this rapid delivery, as Grillades Torino has opened a branch in Saguenay. We'll also talk about two well-known restaurants that lost Michelin stars and the Top Chef culinary competition as seen by a Montreal chef.
First, on February 11, Grillades Torino opened a new restaurant at Place du Royaume in Chicoutimi. This restaurant chain has enjoyed great success since its launch, with the new Saguenay branch being the 22nd in Quebec for the chain. The growing popularity of Mediterranean cuisine is very present and we take advantage of it. The owners plan to open two other franchises in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean despite the lack of manpower.
Then the Michelin guide announced the demotion of two renowned chefs, Guy Savoy and Christopher Coutanceau, from three to two stars. Five other restaurants also lost a star. Gwendal Poullennec, the guide's boss, said the decisions were made after numerous visits from inspectors throughout the year. The two chiefs were met personally to discuss the situation. Guy Savoy had held the highest distinction in gastronomy, three stars, since 2002, while Christopher Coutanceau had received his third star just before the first confinement, at the beginning of 2020.
The Michelin guide had demoted one chef in 2019 and 2020, but none in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic. The guide will unveil its 2023 winners in a week.
Finally, Jérémie Falissard, chef and owner of several Montreal restaurants, is taking part in the 14th season of Top Chef, a prestigious culinary competition broadcast on television in France. According to Falissard, the show is very popular on this side of the Atlantic, where it is even watched in bars on the big screen. The chef wanted to participate in the competition to show the French what he does in Montreal and promote the culinary culture of the city and the province. Although the competition is very tough, with chefs holding three stars in the Michelin Guide, Falissard gets along well with the other participants and appreciates the atmosphere of sharing passion.
