Magill Estate Restaurant outshone at the Michelin Guide South Australia 2027 taking home the only two star ratings as 10 South Australian restaurants earned their first stars, one of international cuisine's highest honours.
They were among 77 restaurants recognised in an event that ended a nervous wait for venues after covert inspections across the state.
Headed by world renowned chef Scott Huggins, Magill Estate Restaurant was lauded for their 10-course meals and quality menu featuring sea urchin with snow peas, tarragon and spring lamb wellingtons.Â
Mr Huggins said it was a dream come true.
"One thing's working for one, one thing is achieving two," he said.
"There's a bit of stress that goes into it. It's a bit tiring and there's a few sleepless nights.
"The amount of hard work and skill and everything they do just inspires me."
South Australia's famed wineries and seafood featured heavily on the night, with Adelaide's Maxwell Restaurant and Esmay, a fine-dining kitchen headed by chef Alanna Sapwell, also earning their first stars.
Adelaide's Restaurant Botanic also won its first star, as well as Skillogalee Barrel House in South Australia's Clare Valley region.
Sixteen restaurants earned a Bib Gourmand while another 50 earned a special Michelin Selected mention.
If it's anything like when New Zealand featured in what was Oceania's first Michelin Guide after 16 stars across 15 restaurants, the guide will kick off a wave of bookings across South Australia.
The Michelin Guide has been considered the fine-dining benchmark for more than a century; however, it only expanded into the Americas.
While the SA government paid for Michelin to cover its state, inspectors decided which eateries to visit.
"The selection process is entirely independent, and restaurants cannot pay to be included or awarded distinctions," the SA government said in a statement.
From Thursday, venues featured in the SA edition will display globally recognised Michelin Guide plaques following the mysterious selection process.
Anonymous inspectors covertly visited venues across South Australia, reportedly using fake names and arriving unannounced as they compiled the inaugural guide.
There are no guarantees a visited venue will receive guide recognition, including the most famous culinary distinction - a Michelin Star.
Only 161 eateries worldwide boast three, while Magill Estate Restaurant became the 550th to feature two.
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