Alex Atala has become Brazil’s first chef to score two Michelin stars in the inaugural edition of the Michelin guide for his Sao Paulo restaurant D.O.M.

WATCH: 23 MICHELIN STARS IN 60 SECONDS

Atala, widely cited as the unofficial ambassador of native, Brazilian cuisine, is the highest ranked chef according to an early preview published on Michelin’s official site ahead of the official announcement.

The inaugural guide for Brazil focuses on Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo and features a total of 17 starred restaurants. Sao Paulo dominates the list, with 11 restaurants and six eateries coming from Rio.

It comes as no surprise that Atala makes his debut in the Michelin world, given his string of accolades and awards.

In addition to winning the title of best restaurant in Brazil in 2013, Atala was also named the Lifetime Achievement Winner by organizers of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurant last year.

“Bringing to the fore Tupinquim ingredients that were overlooked by or unfamiliar to other renowned chefs, such as priprioca, black rice and pupunha palm heart, his cooking surprises and stimulates the palate, offering a veritable journey through the flavors, textures and produce of Brazil,” reads a blurb on the Michelin site. “Passion and a prodigious technical skill have resulted in his innovative, creative and seasonal cuisine becoming a reference point for Brazilian cooking.”

Here are the starred restaurants in Brazil, representing modern, Brazilian, French and Japanese cuisines:

Two-Stars

D.O.M., Sao Paulo

One-Star

Huto, Sao Paulo
Dalva e Dito, Sao Paulo
Oro, Rio de Janeiro
Roberta Sudbrack, Rio de Janeiro
Kinoshita, Sao Paulo
Epice, Sao Paulo
Kosushi, Sao Paulo
Tuju, Sao Paulo
Le Pré Catelan, Rio de Janeiro
Olympe, Rio de Janeiro
Attimo, Sao Paulo
Maní, Sao Paulo
Jun Sakamoto, Sao Paulo
Mee, Rio de Janeiro
Lasai, Rio de Janeiro
Fasano, Sao Paulo