According to Wikipedia there are only 133 restaurants in the world that have a 3-star Michelin rating.
None of those are in Australia. In fact, not a single Michelin star rated restaurant is situated in the Southern Hemisphere.
Despite there being thousands of restaurants with a Michelin star rating, those stars are not easy to come by.
Gordon Ramsey is best known for his profanity and propensity for creating successful restaurants and the British chef and restaurateur is the holder of no less than 16 Michelin Stars.
Ramsey has previously opened restaurants in Australia, including Maze Grill in Melbourne but in 2011 Maze Grill was closed.
It didn’t receive a Michelin Star, partly because they don’t yet exist in Australia. But let’s suppose for a minute that the Michelin Guide did bring its restaurant reviewers to Oz.
Which Melbourne restaurants might be awarded a Michelin Star?
Vue de Monde
Sitting high above the city on the 55th floor of the Rialto building, Vue de Monde offers sweeping Melbourne views, local and sustainable ingredients and unsurpassable cuisine that chef and owner Shannon Bennet has a right to be proud of.
The Seasonal Tasting Menu at $275pp includes divine dishes such as:
- Moonlight Flat Clair de Lune oyster with lemon myrtle
- Cured kangaroo with salsify and wild garlic
- Chocolate soufflé with espresso ice cream
Operating since 2005, Vue de Monde would surely be on the list for a Michelin star or two.
Likely to receive: 2 Michelin Stars
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
Heston Blumenthal is already the proud owner of 6 Michelin Stars so his Melbourne-based restaurant Dinner by Heston Blumenthal would be a likely addition if Michelin Stars were introduced in Australia.
Melbourne-based Dinner by Heston’s 10-course Degustation Menu ($295pp) has an historical theme and dishes include: Hay Smoked Kingfish, Powdered Duck with grilled red cabbage and pickled cherries and Tipsy Cake with spit roast pineapple.
Chef Director Ashley Palmer-Watts runs the day-to-day at Dinner and has worked alongside Blumenthal for almost 20 years.
Minamishima
Dining at Minamishima is a privileged experience.
The meticulous flavours and preparation of Japanese Chef Koinchi Minamishima and sushi chef Yoshiki Tano is an experience you won’t forget in a hurry.
Even a Michelin inspector would be wowed. Three stars is the maximum amount of Michelin stars a restaurant can receive and is based on five criteria:
- Quality of the ingredients
- Mastery of flavour and cooking techniques
- The personality of the chef in his cuisine.
- Value for money
- Consistency between visits
In our opinion, Minamishima gets top marks for all the above.
Florentino
Florentino has been serving Melbournians since 1928. Renowned for their fine Italian dining, any Michelin inspector would surely be thrilled to mangiare here.
The 6-course Gran Tour menu ($180 plus classic wine pairing at $130) consists of dishes such as Scarlet prawn with rose vinaigrette, cherry tomato, barley and parsley as well as Quail, liver and farro radicchio with blueberry.
Guy Grossi is the owner and Head Chef and he’d be well placed to receive a Melbourne restaurant Michelin Star for delectable dishes like those.
Ides Melbourne
When it comes to Michelin star-worthy restaurants, Melbourne has more per capita than any other city in Australia. It’s simply where you go for fine dining.
Ides Melbourne is one such establishment.
Ides’ 4-course menu is a culinary indulgence of sweet crab meat, hard-boiled egg white, shiso seeds & fresh asparagus (see pic above); Snapper with broccoli and butter, Beef Cheeks and the mysterious looking Black Box dessert.
Head Chef Peter Gunn is king at creating interesting and delicious Michelin-star dishes and we’re vouching that Ides will be one of the first Australian restaurants to receive a Michelin Star. If that ever happens.
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