The first French vegan restaurant awarded with a Michelin star ONA, by chef Claire Vallée

"It felt like I got hit by a train". This is how Claire Vallée, chef and owner of ONA, a vegan restaurant located in Ares, near Bordeaux, commented on the awarding of a star by Michelin, the first for her restaurant. In addition to being a great achievement for the chef's restaurant, opened in 2016, it's the first recognition of its kind for a vegan restaurant in France. The Michelin guide awarded ONA also a green star, an award introduced last year that aims at rewarding ethical and sustainable businesses. 

Previously Michelin had awarded other vegetarian and vegan restaurants around the world, a recognition that demonstrates the progress that this type of cuisine has made not only in terms of popularity but also in terms of reputation, finally managing to be considered among the examples of haute cuisine, especially in a place like France still tied to ancient culinary traditions and refractory to novelty.