Lithuania will soon become the latest gourmet country to enter the famous Michelin guide. The largest of the three Baltic states restaurants will add to the list of the best places in the region, which also includes the best restaurants in Estonia and Latvia.
The first selected restaurants in the country will be presented on June 13. At a special event in Vilnius.
"By presenting the Lithuanian guide, we will complete the list of Michelin recommendations for the Baltic countries and provide detailed information about the highest quality restaurants in the region. The new guide will reveal the uniqueness of Lithuanian restaurants, spread the word about the country's talented chefs and allow them to continue cultivating passion, creativity and respect for local culinary traditions. At the moment, our inspectors are finishing selecting the first restaurants, the list of which we can't wait to share with gourmets from all over the world", said Gwendal Poullennec, the international director of the Michelin Guide, about Lithuanian gourmet restaurants.
The presentation of the "Michelin" guide in Lithuania is supported by the Ministry of Economy and Innovation. "As a country, we are famous not only for our historical heritage and beautiful nature, but also for authentic culinary experiences, which have finally been recognized by the prestigious Michelin guide. This recognition is as important as the inclusion of Kaunas' modernism in the UNESCO World Heritage List and the 700th anniversary of Vilnius, which caught the attention of the whole world. This is another open invitation to the world to experience the authenticity of Lithuania - this time through taste experiments and respect for gastronomic traditions", says the Minister of Economy and Innovation Dawn Armonaitė.
"Michelin" guide inspectors carefully explored Lithuania, looking for the country's best restaurants. They visited different regions of Lithuania: the port city of Klaipėda, located at the confluence of the Danė River with the Baltic Sea, old town everyone is impressed by the wonderful 18th century wooden buildings; Trakus, located in the historical national park, where everyone is impressed by the 14th century castle standing in the center of Galvė lake. castle; elegant Kaunas, located at the confluence of the Neris and Nemunas rivers, which surprises with its medieval fortress, cathedral, Gothic towers and modernist architecture included in the UNESCO world heritage list; and also, of course, Vilnius - an impressive historical capital with a wonderful combination of Gothic, Renaissance, Classicism and Baroque architecture.
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While traveling around Lithuania, Michelin guide inspectors tasted classic and modern dishes - from those with local roots to French, Italian and Indian; from delicious market buns to sample tasting menus featuring the best local and seasonal produce. They notice that in Lithuania, a lot of attention is paid to the preservation of vegetables and the preparation of meat or fish, which allows products to be stored for a longer period of time. Such products are used later in the cooler months. In addition, all ingredients of animal and plant origin are maximally used in the preparation of dishes - from nose to tail and from root to tip.
The list of the first Lithuanian restaurants selected for the Michelin guide will be presented in 2024. June 13 During a special event in Vilnius, at the "Pirklių" club.
Michelin guide methodology
The world-famous restaurant guide in 1900. was created by tire company Michelin to encourage car travel. Since then, the guide's creators have stayed true to their original mission: to discover culinary travel destinations, guide global travelers and local foodies to the best restaurants, spread the word about different countries' cuisines, and encourage people to travel.
The selection of restaurants for the "Michelin Guide Lithuania" is carried out independently by secret "Michelin" inspectors, following the methodology used on a global scale for many years.
Michelin inspectors evaluate only the quality of restaurant dishes based on 5 criteria:
- Product quality
- Cooking technique
- Harmony of flavors
- The chef's individuality is revealed through the dishes
- With constant quality assurance, both looking at the menu and looking at the longer term
Restaurants selected by the Michelin guide
The Michelin guide evaluates selected restaurants using a comprehensive rating system. The most well-known rating is the world-famous Michelin stars, awarded to restaurants that provide exceptional taste experiences. One Michelin star is awarded to restaurants for "high-quality food worth stopping for", two stars for "excellent food worth deviating", and three stars for "exceptional cuisine worth to specifically plan a trip."
In addition to the prestigious stars, evaluations in the popular "Bib Gourmand" category are also awarded. They are awarded to restaurants that offer quality food at a great price. Michelin Green Star is awarded to exemplary restaurants committed to fully sustainable gastronomic practices.
The list of all restaurants selected by "Michelin Guide Lithuania" will be available exclusively in digital format - together with other best-rated restaurants and hotels around the world. This can be done by visiting the Michelin Guide online on the website or using a free smartphone app.
