Update 18 November  Zurich, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Anne-Sophie Pic, head chef at the Beau-Rivage Palace Hotel in Lausanne, has been given a prestigious second star by French-based Michelin Red Guides, whose new guide to Switzerland comes out 19 November. The Beau-Rivage is one of only thirteen 2-star restaurants in Switzerland. Pic leads the way for the Lake Geneva region, which continues to boast two of Switzerland’s three three-star restaurants, Philippe Rochat in Crissier, canton Vaud and Le Pont de Brent in Montreux, Vaud.

Swiss restaurants have a total of 101 stars, making it the country with the highest number of starred restaurants per inhabitant.

Michelin’s new guide to Tokyo is also out (it goes on sale in Europe only in February 2010). The city now has the highest number of 3-star restaurants in the world, with three. It also has more stars than any other city, 261, and Michelin refers to it as “world leader in gourmet dining.”

Two other restaurants which currently have one star are in line to receive a second star: Auberge de Floris in Anières, canton Geneva and Homann’s Restaurant in Samnaun, canton Graubuenden.

Michelin gave new single stars to three restaurants in Geneva, awarding them to chefs:

• Dominique Gauthier at Le Chat-Botté, Hotel Beau Rivage in Geneva, who also has three Gault-Millau toques
• Jérôme Manifacier at Vertig’O at neighbouring Hotel de la Paix
• Vineet Bhatia at Indian restaurant Le Rasoi by Vineet at the Mandarin Oriental hotel.

Le Rasoi by Vineet is the first Indian restaurant in Switzerland to be awarded a star. He is also the first British chef to be awarded a star in more than one country: the Geneva restaurant is similar in concept to his Michelin-starred restaurant in London, he told industry publication, CatererSearch.

Five other Swiss restaurants were given new one-star ratings: Sankt Meinrad and Sein in Zurich plus three in French-speaking Switzerland: c21 in Champéry, Le Trianon in Mont Pelerin, Auberge de l’Onde in Vevey.

Michelin’s “Bib” category, for relatively inexpensive meals and lodging with good value, selected 72 restaurants and 43 hotels in Switzerland for 2010. Restaurants must offer a complete meal for under CHF60 and the hotels a room for two, breakfast included, for under CHF150. The Du Lac in Versoix was one of 10 new selections. Le Bistrot du Boeuf Rouge in Geneva remains on the list.

Seven restaurants lost stars: two due to closing, including the Parc des Eaux-Vives in Geneva, which belonged to the city, three restaurants were demoted to fewer stars, one had a change of ownership and one was cut entirely from the selection.

Guide details: 520 pages, 1,562 restaurants (695) and hotels (867) in all price ranges reviewed, on sale at bookstores 19 November, and in France mid-December. CHF37

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