①Guiyu Photo: Fang Jingyi ②Jin Sha Photo: Huang Yuxuan ③Jie Xiang Lou Photo: The Michelin Guide
By Jin Yingying
Eating the Michelin recommended foods can be added to your daily routine now.
On May 30, the Michelin Guide released a total of 51 its inaugural selected restaurants in Hangzhou.
Among them, six have been awarded One Michelin Star for their exceptional cuisine and twelve have received a Bib Gourmand for their excellent price-to-quality ratio. Additionally, two service professionals have been recognized with the Michelin Sommelier Award and the Michelin Service Award.
The Michelin Guide, published by the renowned French tire company Michelin since 1900, comprise a collection of guidebooks that bestow up to three coveted Michelin stars upon only a handful of exceptional establishments.
The Michelin Guide praised Hangzhou as a city "with a unique charm, long history, and rich heritage," where the fusion of tradition and modernity has helped shape its culinary culture. Local delicacies offer authentic flavors, while ingredients from surrounding provinces inspire new approaches to culinary creations.
Six restaurants awarded One Michelin Star
The Michelin Guide's One Michelin Star designation highlights the restaurants that offer extremely outstanding culinary experiences. To assess which restaurants deserve this honor, Michelin inspectors have to visit each establishment multiple times anonymously. Six carefully selected establishments in Hangzhou were awarded One Michelin Star in the first edition of the Michelin Guide for Hangzhou: Ambré Ciel (珀), Guiyu (桂语山房), Jie Xiang Lou (解香楼), Jin Sha (金沙厅), Longjing Manor (龙井草堂), and Xin Rong Ji (新荣记).
Here are some of the official comments from the Michelin Guide.
Ambré Ciel : The restaurants single fixed-price menu at lunch and dinner features dishes rooted in French tradition yet boosted by subtle Chinese twists.
Guiyu: This sleek, elegant establishment is located in an osmanthus forest, of which the sweet scent lingers in the air in autumn. Once you step inside, the earthy smell of black tea mingles with the intoxicating aroma of the tea-smoked specialties such as crispy chicken.
Jie Xiang Lou: The menu features Jiangnan dishes which are updated with modern Western techniques.
Jin Sha: The kitchen brigade sources seasonal ingredients from all over China to create new Zhejiang classics with modern twists. Try the braised pork belly with richly flavored abalone, and finish the meal on the perfect note with Longjing tea crème brûlée.
Longjing Manor: The experienced head chef embraces old-fashioned Jiangnan dishes with poetic names, and particularly local Zhejiang classics.
Xin Rong Ji: Its deep-fried hairtail is crispy and juicy, while the squab is succulent and tender.
Twelve restaurants received Bib Gourmand
In addition to high-end fine dining establishments, the Michelin Guide recognizes restaurants that serve outstanding food at reasonable prices. This recognition is referred to as the Bib Gourmand designation. In China, the typical cost for a Bib Gourmand meal, consisting of three courses and excluding beverages, is approximately RMB 300 per person or less.
Out of the 12 restaurants bestowed with this honor, the majority specialize in Hangzhou cuisine and noodles. These unassuming eateries offer authentic, delectable dishes on a budget.
The Michelin Guide names some selected restaurants as "diners may sample local homemade dishes," which include Bao Zhong Bao Shi Fu (宝中宝食府), Fu Yuan Ju (Shangcheng) (福缘居〈上城〉), King's Choice (金仲帮), and Xiao Dian Huang (笑典皇).
Vegetarian food at Qing Chun Perma (庆春朴门) and Zhi Zhu (Xihu)（知竹〈西湖〉）, which has been also recommended by Hangzhoufeel, are on the list.
You can also try traditional snacks (or dim sum according to Michelin officials) at Xiao Lao Hun Tun (小劳馄饨) and Hui Xin Xiao Chi Dian (蕙心小吃店).
As Hangzhou locals always have a fondness for noodles, four noodles restaurants are listed: Fang Lao Da (方老大), Fu Xing Mian Wang (复兴面王), Rong Xian Mian Guan (Qianjiang Road) （荣鲜面馆〈钱江路〉) and Wu Zi Mian Guan (伍子面馆).
A world's perspective on local cuisine
Apart from the restaurants acknowledged with Michelin stars and Bib Gourmand awards, the inaugural Hangzhou Michelin Guide features 33 top-notch restaurants that highlight 10 unique cooking styles, showcasing the city's flourishing culinary scene. These esteemed eateries safeguard the distinct flavor profiles of both Hangzhou and Zhejiang cuisine.
On the press release of the lists, the Michelin officials mentioned the significant influence of seasonal ingredients on cuisine, as well as praised Hangzhou as a creative city, affirming the city's cultural characteristics.
They also said that Hangzhou's cuisine is mainly focused on local food and expressed their hope for more diverse cuisine options. In a sense, this is an explanation for why only six restaurants received one star in the first Michelin Guide Hangzhou edition.
However, it has already opened a window to the world for a better understanding of the Hangzhou cuisine, offering a guide for foreign tourists to explore delicacies around the city especially as the Asian Games draw near.