Chef Anne-Sophie Pic has become the first woman in 50 years to win three Michelin stars.
With the publication of the French edition of the new Michelin guide today, Pic, 37, becomes one of only four women ever to be awarded a third star.
She joins the ranks of Eugenie Brazier and Marie Bourgeois who were given their third stars in 1933, and Marguerite Bise, who received her third in 1951.
Pic follows in the footsteps of her father and grandfather, who were both awarded three stars for their family restaurant, Maison Pic in Valence, south France.
It has taken Pic 15 years to regain the third star which was lost following the death of Anne-Sophie’s father, Jacques, in 1992.
Three other Parisian chefs attained three stars in 2007: Yannick Alleno of Le Meurice, Frederic Anton of Le Pre Catelan, and Pascal Barbot of L’Astrance. Jacques Lameloise of Maison Lameloise regained the third star he lost in 2005.
While judges awarded five new restaurants three-star status, some big Parisian names were downgraded to two, including the hotel George V restaurant, Le Cinq, and Jean-Claude Vrinat’s Taillevent.
Taillevent, founded in 1946 by Jean-Claude’s father Andre Vrinat, gained its first star within two years, and its second in 1956.
The Michelin Guide to France now numbers 26 three-star restaurants, 65 two-stars, and 436 one-stars. It goes on sale 26 February.
Written by Sophie Montagne
