The 2012 edition of the French Michelin guide has handed out a rare three-star ranking to a restaurant tucked into the French Alps, one of just 105 establishments deemed “worth the trip”, according to the secretive estimation of Michelin inspectors.

Chef Emmanuel Renaut’s restaurant Flocons de Sel in Megève, France has become the country’s 26th restaurant to join the ranks of establishments like Alain Ducasse at the Plaza Athénée and Guy Savoy in the exclusive three-starred club.

However, the newest addition is still not enough to unseat Japan as the culinary capital of the world, which boasts 32 three-starred establishments.

Meanwhile, the menu at Flocons de Sel is built around traditional Savoyard cuisine from the mountainous regions of southeastern France.

On their current winter menu are dishes like Jerusalem artichoke in butter noisette sauce, with cloves and Alps truffles, and local fish from Lac Leman with leeks and and a lemon paté.

Other notable new additions in this year’s guide include Le Sur Mesure at the Mandarin Hotel by celebrity chef Thierry Marx, who is a fixture on French TV, and L’Abeille at the Shangri-La Hotel, by Philippe Labbé.

In total, there was one new three-starred restaurant, 10 new two-starred eateries, and 58 new restaurants to earn a single star this year.