New Year, New Stars! 2021 ended with a Michelin Gala that awarded new restaurants the famous red and white star of Gastronomic excellence (with some surprises when it comes to new awardees).
But the big news at the end of the last year was not the attribution of this traditional award, but who was amongst those who received the Michelin Green Star.
Introduced in 2020, this annual award aims to highlight restaurants at the forefront of the industry when it comes to sustainable practices. They take responsibility for ethical and environmental standards and work with sustainable producers and suppliers to avoid waste and reduce, or even, remove plastic and other non-recyclable materials from their supply chain.
Any Michelin Guide restaurant – including Bib Gourmand or Starred – can receive this award. Since 2020, more than 300 Green Stars had been awarded worldwide, but Portugal had not yet achieved this distinction.
By the end of 2021, that has also changed! The good sustainability practices, which importance has been growing fast in our country, were finally recognized and the winners were Alentejo and Madeira, with Herdade do Esporão and Il Gallo d’Oro restaurants, respectively, in addition to having the traditional Star (Esporão received its first, and Il Gallo d’Oro kept its two).
This recognition of two distinct restaurants that are at the forefront of sustainable gastronomy is also the appreciation of an increasingly growing trend of concern for the local community. More than a trend, in fact, they are already models to follow, leading change within the industry, promoting initiatives and inspiring both professionals and customers, through the quality of product supply, traceability, transparency, respect for seasonality and reduction of waste.
These are the Stars that recognize a type of Luxury that is authentic in its entirety: Sustainability. And that ABC Hospitality recognizes and advocates: Sustainable Luxury. Therefore, the Green Stars are the Stars that we will love to follow more and more, as they are part of a holistic practice of the food cycle and Well-Being cycles that are our Spirit and Mission, which are our daily work. And one day, who knows, we will have the opportunity to obtain a Green Star for the essential work towards an increasingly sustainable Hospitality. Let Us Dream!
Happy New Year 2022 everyone!
Luis Madera
Hotel Management Strategy
ABC Sustainable Luxury Hospitality