Germany a gourmet paradise? Don't scoff -- the land of sauerkraut and schnitzel is second only to France when it comes to Michelin three-star restaurants.
Germany's gastronomic firmament just got a little brighter. The Michelin Restaurant Guide for 2006 named a new three-star restaurant, bringing the total number in the country up to seven.
The award -- to chef Christian Bau's Schloss Berg in the town of Perl, in Saarland -- leaves Germany second only to France as the country with the most three-star restaurants. In the Michelin system, three stars means the restaurant deserves a special trip. The food, wine, decor and service will be exceptional and you should expect to pay highly for it.
Two more restaurants got two-star designation -- meaning the the restaurant deserves a detour, everything will be top-notch, if not perfect, and again you should not expect a bargain -- bringing the number in Germany up to 15. And 161 restaurants carry one star -- if it's on your way, you should stop, and the restaurant should serve very good food in a pleasant environment. That's four more stars than in 2005.
'Red bible'The red-colored Michelin Guide is considered the Bible for those obsessed with fine cuisine, and it tends to favor French classic cooking over modern styles. As much as it is revered, the system has come under criticism for carrying disproportional weight. The awarding -- or removal -- of a star can make or break an establishment. A restaurant that is given a star is virtually guaranteed a huge leap in patronage and profits; the loss of stars -- or likewise, points on competitor Gault Millau's scale -- can shut an establishment down.
More here..
