Michelin unveiled the very first selection for the Michelin Guide Seoul 2017.
Seoul’s eclectic cuisine delighted Michelin Guide’s inspectors, who discovered some exceptional restaurants in Seoul. According to Michael Ellis, International Director of Michelin Guides, “The richness of this first selection is the sign that today Seoul has emerged as a mecca of world gastronomy.”
Two restaurants have been awarded three stars in this first selection: Gaon, a traditional restaurant serving Korean cuisine. “The elegance and finesse of the dishes served in the Gaon really won over our inspectors,”says Michael Ellis. “Served in a refined setting anchored in pure Korean tradition, the meticulously prepared dishes using seasonal ingredients are a beautiful incarnation of the best of classic Korean cuisine.”
Another restaurant to get three stars, La Yeon, situated on the 23rd floor of the Hotel Shilla Seoul, offers a superb view of Namsan Park. “The cuisine at La Yeon led by chef Kim Sung Il immerses diners in a true gastronomic experience. The sophistication of the dishes combined with the contemporary approach the chef gives to Korean tradition lifts this restaurant to the level of experiences that are worth the trip,” explains Michael Ellis.
Three restaurants obtained two stars in this first selection in Seoul: Gotgan, an establishment that impresses both with the panoramic view it offers of the city and the sophistication of the Korean cuisine offered by chef LEE – cuisine in which 30 year old soy sauce or soybean paste replaces traditional seasonings. Kwon Sook Soo, whose name was inspired by “sooksoo” an ancient Korean word meaning “professional chef”, also received two stars. Chef Kwon WOO JOONG infuses modern touches into traditional Korean food by in particular associating unusual seasonal products with the most common ingredients to create original and unconventional flavours.
Finally, the restaurant Pierre Gagnaire was awarded two stars. The eponymous restaurant of the famous French chef Pierre GAGNAIRE, who thereby totals 16 stars worldwide, offers French cuisine reflecting the creative style of the Parisian chef while being based on local ingredients.
