A spread of South Australian restaurants has achieved distinguished culinary honours by becoming the first venues in the nation to receive stars from world-renowned guide Michelin.
At a glitzy, red-carpet ceremony at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Wednesday evening, Michelin dished out one-star ratings to 10 SA eateries.
It also delivered a single, coveted two-star rating to Magill Estate Restaurant, which overlooks Penfolds Magill Estate.
The one-star winners are Anvers Restaurant, Maxwell Restaurant, Botanic, Arkhé, Esmay, Aurora at ILA, Hentley Farm, LVN Restaurant at Bird In Hand, Aptos and Skillogalee Barrel House.
“Tonight marks an historic milestone — the first time the Michelin Guide has recognised restaurants in Australia,” Michelin Guide international director Gwendal Poullennec said.
“To every restaurant recognised tonight — congratulations.
“They are all putting South Australia on the world culinary map.”
World-renowned Michelin Guide stars have been distributed to SA restaurants. (Reuters: Christian Hartmann)
The winners come from across some of South Australia’s premium produce districts, including McLaren Vale, the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa Valley.
Magill Estate Restaurant chef Scott Huggins could barely contain his delight, saying it was a “dream that’s come true”.
“We looked at opening restaurants in France to achieve a Michelin star — that’s how crazy it can be,” he said.
“It’s come to South Australia, so extremely lucky and honoured to be the first restaurant in Australia to achieve two stars.
“It’s like buying a lottery ticket — just not knowing until the number’s been read out how it’s going to land.”
The Michelin Man at the Adelaide Convention Centre. (ABC News)
Dozens of other venues and individual chefs were recognised in various ways, with Shobosho chef Shakaan Abillion winning the inaugural young chef award.
“We now have 77 different venues being recognised by Michelin,” SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said.
Esmay chef Alanna Sapwell said the honour of a star rating would fill her colleagues with pride.
“I just walked out and my whole team’s just in tears, and I think I was just a little bit in shock before,” she said.
“I would really love to see this spread throughout Australia because it should be inclusive.”
Esmay chef Alanna Sapwell hopes the recognition spreads across the industry nationally. (ABC News)
Aptos chef Justin James, who hails from the US, likened the achievement to the Super Bowl and the Oscars, while Jake Kellie from Arkhé said SA was currently the envy of the national culinary scene.
“I was very fortunate [to be] in Sydney last night speaking with a lot of industry folk, and they’re all very jealous that we’ve got this amazing opportunity to put South Australia on the world map,” he said.
‘This is life-changing’
The awards have been hyped for their potential to lure international tourists to South Australia.
The awards ceremony represents the first time Michelin has rated Australian restaurants in its guide, after entering a commercial agreement with the SA government.
The government said the price it paid was confidential for commercial reasons.
Mr Malinauskas said the recognition bestowed by the awards was “worth its weight in gold” and described the ceremony as a “special night for the hospitality industry” in Australia.
“Every restaurant represented here tonight, every chef, should be brimming with pride.”
Australian food advocate Mandy Hall says the awards are “life-changing”. (ABC News)
Earlier in the night, Australian food industry advocate Mandy Hall said achieving a Michelin star was “life-changing — there’s no question”.
“We already have global recognition — but to actually have the Michelin stamp and that star next to your name is amazing,” she said.
“These people decide very early on in their life that they want to dedicate their life to this career — and when I say ‘dedicate’, they really do; they give it everything, they have relationships with all their producers, so this is life-changing.”