Chef Michaël Arnoult, in the kitchen at Les Morainières, a restaurant in the village of Jongieux, in 2022. MATTHIEU CELLARD
Unless you are a true fine dining connoisseur, you have likely never heard of Michaël Arnoult, who received his third Michelin star on Monday, March 16, with the presentation of the 2026 Michelin Guide selection in Monaco. The 48-year-old chef has never been on TV and does not boast on social media. In fact, he has no Instagram account, beyond the one managed by his wife, Ingrid Arnoult, who also oversees the dining room at the restaurant Les Morainières.
To meet Arnoult, you need both time and a bit of luck. The restaurant is located some way away from celebrated Alpine culinary destinations such as the ski resort towns of Megève and Courchevel. Getting there means winding through mountain roads, passing through tunnels and zigzagging along hillsides. In the small village of Jongieux (population: 289), the restaurant finally appears, a tiny dot perched above outstretched vineyards.
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