Arpège goes vegetarian

PARIS: The three-star restaurant Arpège will no longer be offering dishes with fish, meat or seafood. This was announced by chef Alain Passard, who has been known for his vegetable-orientated cuisine for many years. This makes the Arpège the first French three-star restaurant to cook exclusively vegetarian dishes.

"My passion for the seasons is leading me to a new chapter," says Passard in a statement on the Arpège website. The garden has always guided and inspired him. This is why the restaurant now works exclusively with plant-based products. "Our vegetables, fruit, herbs, flowers ... and the honey from our beehives will be the new notes of our score. With the enthusiasm of a chef and the confidence - yours, which means so much to me - I look forward to sharing this journey with you."

Originally from Brittany, Alain Passard took over the premises of the restaurant in 1986 and opened the Arpège there. He made a name for himself back in the late 1990s with his decision to give up red meat. Since then, Alain Passard has developed his profile with vegetable-orientated dishes, using produce from several of his own gardens. These gardens are located near Paris and are cultivated according to organic principles. This has led the restaurant to top positions in international rankings. He has been voted first place several times by other star chefs in the rankings of the French magazine Le Chef. The restaurant has also been included in The World's 50 Best Restaurants ranking for 20 years - longer than any other restaurant in the world.