Germany now ranks second behind France as the European country with the most three-starred eateries, after Michelin inspectors handed out a third star to a contemporary restaurant that centers its cuisine on the aromatics of food.

In the 2012 edition of the Michelin Guide Germany, La Vie, in Osnabrück has become the ninth restaurant to earn the highest ranking possible from the red book.

Inspectors also promoted 10 new restaurants this round, to give the country a total of 32 two-starred establishments.

The number of one-star restaurants total 208, up from 205 last year, 23 of which are new additions while the balance lost their single-star status.

At La Vie, meanwhile, chef Thomas Bühner plays with different aromas and textures to create dishes that awaken the palate and the nose.

A traditional tasting menu, for instance, includes a carpaccio of lobster with passion fruit and peanuts, wild pigeon essence with a touch of Armagnac, plum and confit and a filet of Canadian bison with foie gras and mushrooms.

La Vie is also a Relais & Châteaux member, an association of the world’s most luxurious hoteliers, chefs and restaurants.

The guide’s Bib Gourmand section — which lists restaurants that offer high quality, three-course meals for €35 or less — also swelled this year to 431.

This year’s red book guide is touted as its heaviest at 1,440 pages and more starred eateries and Bib Gourmand selections than ever before.

The Michelin Guide Germany 2012 goes on sale November 11 for €29.95 In addition to the printed version, it will also be available in an app in March 2012.

Source: AFPrelaxnews