Henry and Debby Onesemo, owners of the Auckland fine dining restaurant TALA. Photo credit: Nick Monro.
Source: RNZ
One Michelin star has been awarded to TALA, making it the first Samoan restaurant in the world to be honoured with the prestigious prize.
Chef Henry Onesemo was the first to be awarded a Michelin star at a ceremony on Tuesday night by Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guides.
TALA now features in New Zealand’s first Michelin Guide, along with a host of other fine dining establishments around Aotearoa.
“Tala means story,” Chef Henry Onesemo said.
“I’m just one of the few ones trying to tell the Samoan food story.”
He joked that he needed time to “go out the back and throw up” before being able to answer any questions.
Meanwhile, Queenstown’s Essence is the only restaurant in New Zealand to be awarded two stars, with Chef Paul Froggatt received a standing ovation.
Froggatt said he was speechless at receiving the honour.
“To be the only restaurant in New Zealand to have this blows my mind.
“It was the dream of a young boy many many years ago… to think I moved to New Zealand to achieve this goal is just amazing.”
In total there were 14 one-star restaurants including:
Inati in Christchurch, led by chef Simon Levy, Ben Bayly’s Ahi, seafood led Ortega in Wellington, The Estate on Auckland’s Waiheke Island, Rātā in Queenstown, Logan Brown in Wellington, Jano Bistro also in Wellington, lunch-only spot Tussock Hill in Christchurch, Kika in Wānaka, Auckland’s Paris Butter, Mudbrick on Waiheke Island and Sherwood and Amisfield in Queenstown.
In addition, Michelin’s Bib Gourmand recognises restaurants that offer good quality and good value cooking.
There are more than 3000 around the world with New Zealand entries added on Tuesday night including:
1154 Pastaria, Amano, Aosta, Apero food and wine, Atelier, Bianca, Bistro Saine, Boda, Bombay Palace Wānaka, Cazador, Cicio Cacio, Fire and Slice, Francesca, Gatherings, Gemmayze Street, Goat, Hummingbird, Indian Alley, Londo, Mileta, Muttonbird, Odeon, Osteria Uno, Paloma Taqueria, Pasta & Cuore, Roca, Soul Quarter, Sundays, Tempero, the Cow Queenstown, The Athens Yacht Club, The Monday Room and Treehouse.
A rollcall of 100 restaurants was picked to be included in New Zealand’s first Michelin Guide, published this month.
Michelin Guide international director Gwendal Poullennec said inspectors spent months dining anonymously across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. They considered quality of ingredients, harmony of flavours, mastery of culinary technique, how the chef’s personality shines through and consistency over time.
Poullennec said while there were various “styles and interpretations” across menus, there was a common thread throughout New Zealand’s dining scene.
“A deep respect of exceptional produce, a strong connection to land and sea, inclusion of Māori and Pacific culture and the genuine warmth of hospitality,” he said.
“Here – seafood, produce, wine and landscape are not simply part of the story, they define the story.”
A small group of special awards were also given out. Michelin Young Chef was awarded to Robert Fairs from Londo in Christchurch. The Service Award, “someone who makes every single guest feel welcome”, went to Stina Persen from Graze in Wellington. Michelin’s Sommelier Award went home with Matthew Aitchison from The French Cafe in Auckland.
Tourism New Zealand is spending $6.3 million to bring the Michelin Guide to NZ. The Guide (and its well known star system) was created in 1900 by the French tyre company and now covers almost 50 destinations but has never had a presence in Oceania.
Before NZ additions, 161 restaurants worldwide held three-star status, the highest honour a restaurant can receive, signifying exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey.
There are 544 restaurants with two stars for “excellent cooking that is worth a detour” and 3162 with one star awarded for a “very good restaurant” where dishes are prepared to a consistently high standard using top-quality ingredients.