Michelin for everyone: top gastronomic restaurants offer discounts
I love going out to eat. From street food to star-worthy plates, I’m always up for it. But let’s be honest, eating at a top restaurant isn’t always financially feasible. The good news is that luxury and fine dining don’t have to mean personal bankruptcy, because TheFork and Michelin are launching the exclusive ‘Michelin Specials’.
A unique, gastronomic experience at a top restaurant without having to eat dry bread for the rest of the month: that’s possible with the Michelin Specials. These are unique offers at selected Michelin restaurants, from starred restaurants to ‘plates’ and Bib Gourmands. In case you’re thinking right away (and I completely understand): ‘what on earth are the differences between these?’, here’s an explanation:
Bib Gourmands
Bib Gourmands—derived from Bibendum, the name of the famous Michelin Man—have been part of the Michelin Guide since 1955. So it’s not a star, but—to quote the guide itself—‘certainly not a consolation prize either’. Bib Gourmands are awarded to restaurants that deliver high quality at a reasonable price. In other words: a very good three-course menu, excluding drinks, for a maximum of 39 euros. According to Michelin, every awarded restaurant guarantees ‘an irresistible balance between price, quality and pleasure.’ They can be recognised by the cheerful symbol of a Michelin Man licking his lips.
Here’s how Michelin stars work
Then there are the Michelin stars. One star is awarded for ‘top-quality ingredients’ and ‘distinctive flavours’. Two stars are awarded for ‘the personality and talent of the chef’, and three stars when ‘cooking has been elevated to an art form’. A little vague perhaps, but you can also remember it like this:
- One star: high-quality cuisine, worth a stop
- Two stars: excellent cuisine, worth a detour
- Three stars: exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey
A plate
And then there is the Michelin plate (or ‘plate’), which stands for ‘quality cuisine’ and can be recognised by the symbol of a plate with cutlery. Quality cuisine is, of course, a flexible concept. My cooking is also high-quality, if I do say so myself, but what comes out of my kitchen is in stark contrast to what comes out of the kitchen at Restaurant Lars, where I recently ate (TIP!) and which has also been awarded a Michelin plate.
Discount
The Michelin Specials are being promoted both through the Michelin app and via the TheFork platform. From today (30 September 2021), you can reserve the ‘Michelin Specials’. And whichever option you choose—from a Michelin plate to Bib Gourmands and even a Michelin-starred restaurant—the discount on a full, existing menu can range from 10 to 25 per cent.
The initiative is starting with 15 restaurants. Hopefully this will soon expand to all 175 restaurants from the Michelin Guide that are listed on TheFork. Restaurant Lars and Bougainville in Amsterdam, as well as Vigor in Vught, can already be booked.
Image: Lars Amsterdam/lvfphotography.com
