Only four months after it opened, Le Pressoir d’Argent Gordon Ramsay has been awarded a Michelin star. What are the benefits to restaurants of gaining a Michelin star, and is it important to customers?
French Fine Dining
Le Pressoir d’Argent Gordon Ramsay only opened to the public in September of last year, and it has already earned itself a one-star rating within the 2016 Michelin Guide for France. The Bordeaux restaurant, situated within the five-star InterContinental Bordeaux, uses locally sourced ingredients of the highest quality to provide diners with a gastronomic treat.
The kitchen at the fine-dining restaurant is led by Gilad Peled, the Executive Chef, who comes with vast experience of working in top-quality restaurants. He has worked at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay Royal Hospital Road in London, which has three Michelin stars, under chefs Clare Smyth and Gordon Ramsay.
When awarding their star ratings, the Michelin Guide is looking for restaurants that are exceptionally ambitious in their menus and can demonstrate excellent levels of culinary skills. The awarding of a star is recognition of their world-class quality, and only selected establishments are seen as deserving of one.
Benefits of Michelin Stars
When they’re setting up a business, as well as sourcing the best commercial refrigeration equipment, restaurants and chefs see the awarding of a Michelin star as the recognition that they are one of the world’s leading establishments. It can also bring benefits to the business, as more customers will want to book a table, and they will be prepared to pay a premium for their meal.
Amongst diners who are deciding on which restaurant to book for a special occasion, 68% would be swayed by one with a Michelin star as opposed to an establishment with no award. Many establishments see a boost in customer numbers when they join the guide, which can enable them to expand further – this might involve choosing new catering supplies from companies such as FFD Ltd.
It is too early to tell if the gaining of their Michelin star will have an impact on Le Pressoir d’Argent Gordon Ramsay, but it will likely increase the popularity of the restaurant. The fact that they have earned their star after only being open for four months shows that a restaurant can achieve a high quality from the very beginning.