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French chef asks to be stripped of three Michelin stars

theguardian.com

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Re: French chef asks to be stripped of three Michelin stars

#41

Post by vacri »

rjzzleep wrote: post #4

He's not the only one. [1][3] In fact some places like Kyo Aji from Kenichiro Nishi - who is apparently a very good and famous chef - go as far as ban michelin tourists. Or at least try to. Just look at this discussion on chowhound [2]. Interesting comment: > Kyoaji is probably sick of rich foreigners trying to book via 5 star hotel concierges. Maybe change your strategy, and stay at a budget salaryman hotel and use…

> stay at a budget salaryman hotel and use their concierge?

Budget hotels have concierges?

Re: French chef asks to be stripped of three Michelin stars

#42

Post by vacri »

Baeocystin wrote: post #20
panopticon wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At the risk of sounding flippant, isn't that just another way of saying he wants to relax his standards?

Do you do your best work when someone is constantly hovering over your shoulder with a clipboard, their one off checkmark making or breaking your career? Or do you do your best work when you are free to focus on the problem at hand?

He could just do what he wants anyway, and not care if he loses a couple of stars. There will be one brief period of "OMG, local 3-star restaurant lost ranking" and after that, nothing.

Re: French chef asks to be stripped of three Michelin stars

#44

Post by dieterrams »

ue_ wrote: post #27
rjzzleep wrote: post #4

He's not the only one. [1][3] In fact some places like Kyo Aji from Kenichiro Nishi - who is apparently a very good and famous chef - go as far as ban michelin tourists. Or at least try to. Just look at this discussion on chowhound [2]. Interesting comment: > Kyoaji is probably sick of rich foreigners trying to book via 5 star hotel concierges. Maybe change your strategy, and stay at a budget salaryman hotel and use…

>“Japanese food was created here, and only Japanese know it,” Mr. Kadowaki said in an interview. “How can a bunch of foreigners show up and tell us what is good or bad?” I feel like this has a xenophobic undertone to it; nobody's showing up anywhere, it's a guide which attempts to find good restaurants and food around the globe; what makes the Japanese in his view so specially qualified to judge the food? If the food…

Xenophobia could be part of it, but there’s probably an element of disdain (possibly deserved) for people who just chase Michelin restaurants but don’t have the palate necessary to really appreciate the food.

An exaggerated analogy: someone who’s never had wine buys a bottle recommended by a highly respected wine expert, tries it, and goes, “Oh, that really is good!”

Re: French chef asks to be stripped of three Michelin stars

#45

Post by nimchimpsky »

chongli wrote: post #37
ue_ wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>“Japanese food was created here, and only Japanese know it,” Mr. Kadowaki said in an interview. “How can a bunch of foreigners show up and tell us what is good or bad?” I feel like this has a xenophobic undertone to it; nobody's showing up anywhere, it's a guide which attempts to find good restaurants and food around the globe; what makes the Japanese in his view so specially qualified to judge the food? If the food…

xenophobic undertone It's another facet of gentrification. A restaurant owner may really love having a small, local clientele of regulars and a very good atmosphere due to that fact. Then one day he gets awarded a Michelin star and suddenly thousands of tourists descend on his place and swamp it with unwanted business. Is it xenophobic to suggest he might prefer to go back to the previous situation?

thats not what he said though.

He said "how can a bunch of foreigners tell us what is good or bad."

There is no undertone, its explicitly xenophobic.

Re: French chef asks to be stripped of three Michelin stars

#46

Post by nimchimpsky »

kodfodrasz wrote: post #40
chongli wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

xenophobic undertone It's another facet of gentrification. A restaurant owner may really love having a small, local clientele of regulars and a very good atmosphere due to that fact. Then one day he gets awarded a Michelin star and suddenly thousands of tourists descend on his place and swamp it with unwanted business. Is it xenophobic to suggest he might prefer to go back to the previous situation?

Also, if it was xenophobic. So what? Doesn't a businessman have the right to choose who to do business with? I believe free trade is a good thing, but seems like many americans mistook free trade for gunboat diplomacy (see opening of Japan). In my understanding free trade is free as in free will: both parties voluntarily take part in the exchange of goods and services. Also one can be patriotic in a way that he/she (…

> So what?

Lots of people don't like xenophobia.

> have the right to choose who to do business with?

Ah here we go. Like the hoteliers who don't allow gay people to stay ?

Re: French chef asks to be stripped of three Michelin stars

#47

Post by hudbuddy »

nimchimpsky wrote: post #46
kodfodrasz wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also, if it was xenophobic. So what? Doesn't a businessman have the right to choose who to do business with? I believe free trade is a good thing, but seems like many americans mistook free trade for gunboat diplomacy (see opening of Japan). In my understanding free trade is free as in free will: both parties voluntarily take part in the exchange of goods and services. Also one can be patriotic in a way that he/she (…

> So what? Lots of people don't like xenophobia. > have the right to choose who to do business with? Ah here we go. Like the hoteliers who don't allow gay people to stay ?

The only other option is to government-mandate that, right? Not saying there aren't other unfortunate consequences of allowing a business owner to choose who they serve, but I'd say the larger problem is just that people can be... well... humans aren't great. However, putting the power in the hands of the law probably doesn't fix that.

Ultimately, why would you want to support someone who doesn't want you to be there?

Regardless, you've given me a new thing to think about. It's a complex issue for sure.

Re: French chef asks to be stripped of three Michelin stars

#48

Post by teekert »

Why not just do what you like and ignore the stars? This just seems like a weak attitude. "Please, don't judge me anymore I can't take it". If you care, you care, if you don't care you don't care.

It's not like Michelin forces him to do anything. Perhaps put a note on the door: "Sorry, I do what I like and at any moment your expectations based on Michelin's stars may be different from what I want to do with my restaurant."

Anyway, the 500 meals a day are judged, by more important people, your customers.

Re: French chef asks to be stripped of three Michelin stars

#49

Post by kodfodrasz »

nimchimpsky wrote: post #46
kodfodrasz wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also, if it was xenophobic. So what? Doesn't a businessman have the right to choose who to do business with? I believe free trade is a good thing, but seems like many americans mistook free trade for gunboat diplomacy (see opening of Japan). In my understanding free trade is free as in free will: both parties voluntarily take part in the exchange of goods and services. Also one can be patriotic in a way that he/she (…

> So what? Lots of people don't like xenophobia. > have the right to choose who to do business with? Ah here we go. Like the hoteliers who don't allow gay people to stay ?

> Lots of people don't like xenophobia.

And lots of people don't like foreigners.

> Like the hoteliers who don't allow gay people to stay ?

Even that is OK in my opinion. The market will sort it out. There are clubs where gay people can have a good time. If gay accomodation becomes a niche market, there will be people seizing that opportunity. The law shall not discriminate people, but telling people what to think and forcing them doing stuff they don't agree with is dictatorship.

Re: French chef asks to be stripped of three Michelin stars

#50

Post by tedivm »

teekert wrote: post #48

Why not just do what you like and ignore the stars? This just seems like a weak attitude. "Please, don't judge me anymore I can't take it". If you care, you care, if you don't care you don't care. It's not like Michelin forces him to do anything. Perhaps put a note on the door: "Sorry, I do what I like and at any moment your expectations based on Michelin's stars may be different from what I want to do with my restau…

Dropping out of "competition" will be better publicity than losing a star.
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