Which restaurants in Touraine have Michelin stars?
On Monday 18 March 2024, the ceremony celebrating the launch of the new Michelin Red Guide was held in Tours. Gathered in the Palais des Congrès for this international event, numerous chefs celebrated the excellence of gastronomy throughout the world. And in the skies over Touraine, two new stars shone brightly!
One of them is that of Kévin Gardien, chef of the Auberge du XIIème siècle in Saché. The chef has been running the restaurant since 2020 with his partner Sandrine Marques, and has already been awarded a Bib Gourmand.
The same goes for Martin Bolaers, head of the restaurant Les Jardiniers (Ligré), who has been awarded a Green Star, a distinction awarded to establishments particularly committed to a sustainable approach to gastronomy.
Kévin Gardien © Adfields
L'Auberge du XIIème siècle © Adfields
Martin Bolaers © Chanel Koehl
Early 2023, the good surprise came from Arbore et Sens, in Loches, with the chef Clément Dumont who got his first star and joined other awarded restaurants. He is keeping it, as are his other colleagues from Touraine.
Clément Dumont – Arbore et Sens © Adfields
The first-time Michelin starred of the last year
Jérôme Roy © Atelier Luvin
Jérôme Roy is a native of Loches, educated at the Albert Bayet lycee in Tours. He then headed south, to Provence, where he was awarded a first star Michelin in 2016. Back in Touraine for the past year, he didn’t have long to wait before receiving another. It is now displayed on the front of L’Opidom, the restaurant in Fondettes he took over with his wife Valérie.
In Azay-le-Rideau, the chef Bastien Gilet from the restaurant L’Auberge Pom’Poire has also been achieved the gastronomic holy grail. For the past few years, there have been plenty of word of mouth recommendations for the restaurant located in the production area of the famous poires tapées (pear dessert). So there is one more gem for visitors to see in the area, close by the Châteaux of Azay-le-Rideau and L’Islette, and also near the wine estate of Nicolas Paget and the château de l’Aulée.
Savorous tasting in L'Opidom restaurant - Loire Valley. © Atelier Luvin
Bastien Gilet © ADT Touraine / JC Coutand
L'Auberge Pom'poire: one Michelin Star - Loire Valley, France. © Adfields
The Vincent Cuisinier de Campagne (Les Coteaux-sur-Loire) restaurant, with its zero-mile approach to the food supply chain, has been naturally spotted by the Guide’s inspector for the Green Star.
Vincent Cuisinier de Campagne – Michelin Green Star © ADT Touraine / JC Coutand
Renewed Michelin stars
No change for Le Château de Pray (Arnaud Philippon in Amboise / also an hotel too), La Promenade (Fabrice Dallais in Le Petit-Pressigny), and L’Evidence (Gaëtan Evrard in Montbazon): all four restaurants kept their Michelin stars. It’s always a pleasure to dine at one of these landmarks of Touraine gastronomy once again. And we can’t wait to get the chance to go back and enjoy our chefs’ specialities again!
La promenade - Maison Dallais
World savour, in the Château de Pray.
Gaëtan Evrard: L'évidence restaurant.
It should also be remembered that the Auberge du Bon Laboureur (Chenonceaux) and Les Hautes Roches (Rochecorbon) have already had the honour of being awarded a Michelin star in the past; these two establishments remain reliable values for hedonists.
Bib Gourmand
In addition to the Michelin stars, several Touraine restaurants have been awarded a “Bib Gourmand”, an award that focuses on value for money. All over Loire Valley, you can be sure to find some great places to eat, and in particular at reasonable prices!
- L’épine (Azay-le-Rideau),
- Les Arpents (Amboise),
- l’Auberge de Port Vallières (Fondettes),
- Au Coin des Halles (Langeais),
- l’Auberge de l’Ile (L’Ile Bouchard).
Another guide, Le Gault & Millau, awarded 3 toques to L’Aubinière (Saint-Ouen-les-Vignes).
L’Auberge de l’Ile, a restaurant near the river Vienne.