FOOD NEWS
Why The Araki London Lost All Its Michelin Stars
BY LISA CURRAN MATTE
When Michelin announced its 2020 star roster, commentators were stunned by the absence of The Araki, which had been one of London's premier three Michelin-star restaurants.
Many thought the loss of its stars was somehow tied to the departure of its founder, Mitsuhiro Araki, who left the restaurant in mid-2019 to open a new venture in Hong Kong.
However, Michelin stars are awarded to restaurants, not to individual chefs. Even the guide itself says, "There is no such thing as a Michelin-starred chef."
A chef's departure might lead to the loss of one star, but not all three in one go. Plus, Mitsuhiro Araki's successor was his personally tutored protege, Marty Lau.
To date, Michelin hasn't responded to inquiries about removing the stars, so the "why" remains a mystery. The Araki London has yet to reclaim Michelin-star status.