The first three Maltese restaurants officially presented the prestigious Michelin star award official plaques today. The winners of the first stars to be awarded in Malta are: De Mondion in Mdina, and Noni and Under Grain, both located in Valletta.

Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection Julia Farrugia Portelli visited each of these restaurants, accompanied by the Malta Tourism Chairman Dr Gavin Gulia and MTA Deputy CEO and Chief Marketing Officer Carlo Micallef, and presented the plaques to Chefs Kevin Bonello, Jonathan Brincat and Victor Borg.

The first Malta Michelin Guide published earlier this year highlights outstanding restaurants, breadth of cuisine styles and culinary skills found in Malta, Gozo and Comino.

Established in the late 19th century, Michelin has maintained its benchmark of international food for more than 120 years, recognising some of the greatest cuisines in the world.

Minister Farrugia Portelli stated that Malta is thrilled after achieving 3 Michelin Star awards for the first time ever.

She added that this is indeed an important milestone for our tourism industry showcasing fine cuisine and our outstanding product. This reflects sheer hard work and determination by the respective restaurant chefs and culinary teams.

The Chairman of the Malta Tourism Authority, Dr Gavin Gulia, added: “This occasion is a special one for two reasons. Firstly, it is an opportunity to present this international certification of excellence to three outstanding establishments, which are representative of the advancements achieved by the local gastronomic scene in recent years.

“Secondly, it is particularly significant that this is taking place at this particular moment when our sector is finally reopening after a period of hiatus. Initial signs since the relaxation of restrictions have been positive, and it is clear that people are eager to return to the dining table with family and friends. There is nothing like a good meal to celebrate a return to normalcy”.

The Michelin awards are given after a rigorous process by Michelin reviewers/inspectors. They visit restaurants randomly and dine in as mystery clients.

The reviewers write a thorough memorandum about their experience, and then all reviewers come together to discuss and decide on which restaurants will be awarded the stars. The reviewers concentrate on the quality, mastery of technique, personality of the chef, value of the food and consistency, in making the reviews. The Michelin guide mechanism has been active since the beginning of 1900s.

To view the full selection of restaurants named in the Malta Michelin Guide online, please visit http://guide.michelin.com