This year is a dark one for many of us, but Kei Kobayashi will certainly remember it as one of the best years of his life.
The 42-year-old Nagano-born man is the first Japanese to win the Michelin Guide's highest rating, three stars. The chef decided to focus on French gastronomy after watching a documentary on Alain Chapel. After working in French restaurants in Japan, he moved to Paris, where he has owned the restaurant Kei since 2011.
Chefs are not always easy, Nagano admitted. On accepting the award, he admitted that his perfectionism makes him difficult to work with - but apparently worth it.
Other high honourees for 2020 include Glenn Viel, chef at Oustau de Baumanière in Provence, and Christopher Coutanceau, head chef at the famous La Rochelle restaurant.
(source: rfi.fr)
