PARIS, March 23 — The Michelin Guide launched its 2022 edition yesterday, celebrating the resilience of the French food industry after two difficult years of pandemic, but calling for more women chefs.
“2021 was another difficult year for restaurants. The impact of the pandemic continues to weigh on them. Prices for ingredients are rising enormously, and recruiting and keeping staff is a challenge for everyone,” said the guide’s director Gwendal Poullennec at the ceremony. Last year’s ceremony, in the midst of a months-long shutdown caused by the pandemic, was a low-key affair with only one chef — Alexandre Mazzia — promoted to three stars.
Judging by the tears and emotion onstage in Cognac, the guidebook continues to be a major source of motivation for chefs and their teams.