France’s Michelin shakeup

The MICHELIN Guide unveiled its France & Monaco selection at the Grimaldi Forum on March 16, 2026, listing 668 starred establishments in total: 31 three‑star, 84 two‑star and 553 one‑star venues. (michelin.com) Les Morainières sits in Jongieux, Savoie, and is run by chef Michaël Arnoult and his wife Ingrid; the couple opened the restaurant in 2005, Arnoult trained at Montargis Hotel School and previously worked under Emmanuel Renaut at Les Flocons de Sel. (michelin.com) Michelin’s 2026 release lists seven newly promoted two‑star restaurants, 54 first‑time one‑star additions and 14 restaurants awarded a MICHELIN Green Star for ethical sourcing and sustainability. (michelin.com) The update also includes notable downgrades: Parisian L’Ambroisie fell from three to two stars following a recent chef handover, and two‑to‑one demotions named in French coverage included Le Suquet and Le Chabichou; national reporting counted 21 retrograded tables in this cycle. (lefigaro.fr) (jds.fr) MONO in Hong Kong, led by Venezuelan chef Ricardo Chaneton, retained its one‑star MICHELIN listing in the 2026 Hong Kong & Macau guide, as recorded on the MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong directory and reflected in regional coverage of the new list. (guide.michelin.com) (scmp.com) Michelin’s statement accompanying the selection emphasised inspectors’ surprise at a generation of audacious, deeply personal restaurants—often family‑run—rooted in local producers and seasonal sourcing. (michelin.com)