At this year’s Michelin star awards on Monday night, it could be established restaurants that take the spotlight. An economically pressured restaurant industry might mean that it will be old gastronomic favorites who receive the most attention when the Michelin Guide hands out stars on Monday. The awarding of this year’s Michelin stars to Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Finnish restaurants is taking place in the Finnish capital, Helsinki. The Michelin Guide originated in France over 100 years ago as a recommendation of good dining establishments. The guide mentions thousands of restaurants, of which the best are awarded one, two, or three Michelin stars. Today, there are over 3500 Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide. Before the evening’s awards, 31 Danish restaurants have one or more of the coveted stars. And the number is expected to land close to the same level this year. According to Berlingske’s food critic Søren Frank, this may not necessarily be a year for new names to receive stars in the Danish restaurant industry. This is due to the fact that not many restaurants with the level to earn a Michelin star have opened in the past year, he explains. “There isn’t what one might call a financial mood to open a very ambitious restaurant,” says Søren Frank. In general, the number of newly opened restaurants has declined since 2019, says Jeppe Møller-Herskind, vice director of the hotel and restaurant industry association, Horesta. “When you look into it, it has become harder to make money. It has simply become much, much more expensive to operate within our industry,” he says. This is particularly due to increased costs as a result of higher prices for energy, food, and wages becoming larger parts of the overall budget. And this is despite record-high employment and turnover, explains Jeppe Møller-Herskind. But there is great optimism in the industry, stemming from a high demand for dining out, he says. Even though there aren’t many new Michelin candidates, it could be the year when Alchemist in Copenhagen receives three stars, says Søren Frank. Or perhaps a star finally falls to Mielcke & Hurtigkarl in Frederiksberg, Falsled Kro in Millinge, Lieffroy in Nyborg, or Studio, also located in the capital. However, there is one newly opened restaurant that has the level for a star, according to the critic. “Copenhagen’s Aure opened in March. Theoretically, there has been time for inspectors to visit, but the question is whether the guide has had the restaurant on its radar,” says Søren Frank.

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