Michelin is coming up again: will these restaurants receive a first, second or even third star in 2024?
The new Michelin stars will be awarded on 7 October. Following the Michelin stars of 2023, we look ahead. Which restaurants are the strongest contenders for a first star? And which restaurants have a chance of receiving a second or even third star?
This year, the Michelin ceremony will take place quite late in the year. Previously, the ceremony was invariably held in spring, but this time the stars will not be awarded until 7 October. This will happen during the BBB Maastricht hospitality trade fair.
Five criteria for a Michelin star
Contrary to popular belief, Michelin stars are awarded solely for the quality of the cuisine a restaurant offers at a given time. Michelin’s inspectors do not take a restaurant’s tableware or atmosphere into account. These aspects are documented, but they are not included in the final decision.
Michelin uses five criteria worldwide to assess a good restaurant: the quality of the products, mastery of cooking techniques, harmony of flavours, the personality of the cuisine as expressed on the plate, and consistency of the service throughout the entire menu and between different visits.
Current state of affairs
What has this produced? There are 103 restaurants in the Netherlands with 1 Michelin star; 17 of them were new to last year’s list. According to Michelin, these are restaurants with refined cuisine that are certainly worth visiting. There are considerably fewer restaurants with two Michelin stars. Only 20 restaurants in the Netherlands can put two stars after their name. According to Michelin, these restaurants have exceptional cuisine and are worth making a detour for. And with the latest ceremony, there were 2 restaurants with three stars. Restaurants with unique cuisine and well worth the journey; these restaurants are a destination in themselves, according to the famous guide. They are Inter Scaldes (in Kruiningen) and De Librije (in Zwolle).
Due to the change of ownership, Inter Scaldes lost its stars, but there is a good chance that the new owners of Inter Scaldes will regain them. Not three in one go, but perhaps two stars at once.
New Michelin stars in Amsterdam in 2024
Among the contenders for a first star are Amsterdam’s restobar Troef, an accessible gem in Amsterdam-Oost where you can eat wonderfully, and Amsterdam fine-dining restaurant Showw. This is the restaurant of passionate sommelier Lendl Mijnhijmer and chef Dorus Floris, who met each other at Bougainville*.
Just outside Amsterdam, in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, SAAM is a strong contender for a first star. SAAM stands for South Africa-AMstel, and you can taste dishes there that are a fusion of Dutch and South African cuisine. I have eaten there several times and am impressed every time. The same goes for Taiko at the Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam. Last year, it was named the Best Asian Restaurant of 2023. Could it finally receive a star too?
Hospitality trade magazine Misset Horeca is also tipping De Mark in Durgerdam (near Amsterdam-Noord) for a first star. If it gets one, it will be the fourth starred restaurant for the people behind 212, who received a star for their Bistro de la Mer last year and already have one for De Juwelier and two stars for restaurant 212.
Even more contenders
Yano in Rotterdam is definitely going to receive a first star; it can hardly be otherwise. At the restaurant that hostess Britta and chef Yuri opened together in November 2022, everything is right. There is so much love, passion, individuality and skill. The couple—she is half Finnish, he is half Moluccan—has mixed together all the ingredients from their lives, from their heritage to their shared experiences at top Rotterdam restaurants such as FG Restaurant** and Amarone*. It is no coincidence that Gault&Millau immediately named YANO Newcomer of the Year.
Another upcoming star couple: Casimir Evens & Lotte Bloem of Odille in the Brabant town of Sint-Oedenrode. They first worked together at VANE in Eindhoven—he as executive chef and she as restaurant manager and sommelier. They then decided to start a restaurant together. Casimir and Lotte create something truly special together, with kitchen islands at the heart of the restaurant where the chefs do their work. This gives all guests a first-class view of the preparation of their creative meal.
In Utrecht, Hemel & Aarde could well pick up a first star. Creative cooking takes place here, from head to tail and from leaf to root. The love of wine has been evident in every glass at Restaurant Hemel & Aarde for years, and last May the team behind the Utrecht restaurant opened a wine bar in the additional space next to the restaurant. Wijnbar Hemel & Aarde follows the same philosophy as the restaurant: a surprising menu full of seasonal produce, served with plenty of personal service.
A third star?
Will Michelin be generous enough to award some third stars this year as well? De Nieuwe Winkel** (Nijmegen) has already been named the best vegetable restaurant in the world, so who knows. And what about restaurant Fred in Rotterdam**? Further south, Hans van Wolde is doing wonderful things at Brut172** (Reijmerstok).
We are incredibly curious about the inspectors’ verdict and will of course keep you updated!
Read also:
- Book quickly: these are Michelin’s new Bib Gourmand restaurants for 2022
- These are the biggest misconceptions about chefs, according to chefs
- Delivery apps? This is where (star) chefs order
Image: Hans van Wolde, Brut172**
