MICHELIN STARS

“Michelin Stars II – Nordic By Nature” is a greater culinary documentary filmed over an 18-months period, that follows the equally endearing and brutal destiny and everyday life of the Faroe Islands, and its culinary pearl, KOKS helmed by chef Poul Andrias Ziska.

This while the world was in a state of shock, all the sudden on pause, reflecting and finding back to core values – what is important; the near, the pure, the pristine, love, nature, local communities and true commitment to your nearest.

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This isn’t a new thing to KOKS; a two Michelin-starred restaurant situated in a low ceiling farmhouse with grass on the roof, at the corner of luscious green fields surrounded by rolling hills at a tiny island inside the isolated Faroe-archipelagos in the middle of the Nordic Seas.

An almost mythological restaurant in hobbit settings that has received international acknowledgement for embracing the mindset the world now finds itself with. Everything sourced, cooked and enjoyed at KOKS comes from the terrain of and waters inside and surrounding the Faroe Islands.

(press play to view the trailer)

“Michelin Stars II – Nordic By Nature” is premiered Wednesday, September 22nd at the 69th edition of San Sebastián International Film Festival.

The film is created by director Rasmus Dinesen, culinary producer Kristian Brask Thomsen and producer Jesper Jarl Becker, and follows the daily life of KOKS as it again opens up after a global quarantine with 90% of all guests used to be gastro tourists, as well as the small Faroese producers.

From in the deep blue with scallop divers, over foragers who risk their lives harvesting seagulls eggs from nests at the very edges of hazardous cliffs, to what traditions, history and distinctive ancient practices lie beneath each dish and ingredient, pilot whales included.

Because what and who are the Faroese? And how is it possible to run a top restaurant like this at the end of the world?

A restaurant the world before COVID-19 took immense detours to dine at and which cuisine is based on just 500 square miles of products in a terrain that is rugged, the climate subpolar – windy, wet, cloudy, and cool, the temperatures average above freezing throughout the year, though with and everlasting light in the summer, but a scorching darkness all through winter.

The Faroe Islands is a microcosmos of exciting products, Nordic history, viking tales, 37 words for fog, more sheep than people, ravishing waterfalls, eccentric personalities, a native tongue only spoken by some 50,000 – and then they have the culinary pearl, KOKS.

Come with us below the Sea as sea urchins, scallops and langoustines are harvested and caught. Climb next to us as seagulls’ eggs are collected on steep hillsides, through adventures caves and lagunes worthy of love settings, and follow the process through a very respectful yet inventive kitchen to the table in the tight and homy dining rooms of KOKS.

“Michelin Stars II – Nordic By Nature” goes deep into the details of the process of a very local community and presents this in an honest, enjoyable, quirky and entertaining way to a global audience.

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In case of interest or/and press,
please contact Kristian Brask Thomsen at:

ambassador@bon-vivant.dk

Bon Vivant Communications is a global gastro embassy specialising in culinary diplomacy, exclusive dinner parties, star chef world tours, cultural marketing, filmmaking and entrepreneurism.

The diplomacy speaks to a strong network of 600 journalists, bloggers and writers, as well as 5000+ global diners around the world.

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“Michelin Stars II – Nordic By Nature” is the second film of a trilogy telling great tales from a grand menu of culinary temples around the world during the golden age of gastronomy. Below, please find information on its predecessor “Michelin Stars – Tales from the Kitchen” which went in-depth of the everyday life of 15 top restaurants across the world.

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“Michelin Stars – Tales From The Kitchen” is a grand documentary, filmed over a two-year period and follows the lives, views and everyday of a long and diverse range of star chefs, global diners, food writers and Michelin management across the world.

From New York City to Copenhagen, from San Sebastián to Tokyo.

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At a moment in time, when humanity is obsessed with food – photographing every dish, worshipping cooks and flaunting trophy meals on social media the documentary goes under the surface and offers an in-depth, honest and relevant view into the world and every day of Michelin chefs and restaurants.

Telling tales from a grand menu of culinary temples as well as digging into the greatness and flaws of Guide Michelin in this golden age of gastronomy.

(Press play to view the trailer)

With grand chefs such as Alain Ducasse, Daniel Humm, René Redzepi, Andoni Aduriz, Yoshimi Narisawa, Victor Arquinzoniz, Guy Savoy and many more, the head production team of three Danes; Director Rasmus Dinesen, Producer Jesper Jarl Becker and Culinary Producer Kristian Brask Thomsen sets the gastronomy bar at the highest level possible.

This while also managing to illustrate a dark flipside of the shiny coin in creating utter culinary excellence; in search of a realistic understanding of life behind the often airbrushed scenes of what is arguably the most dynamic and creative industry in the world.

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CHEFS MAINLY FEATURED
(in order of appearance)

Guy Savoy, Guy Savoy ***, Paris
Alain Ducasse, Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée ***, Paris
Andoni Luis Aduriz, Mugaritz **, Gipuzkoa
Victor Arguinzoniz, Asador Extebarri *, Atxondo
René Redzepi, Noma **, Copenhagen
Rasmus Kofoed, Geranium ***, Copenhagen
Esben Holmboe Bang, Maaemo ***, Oslo
Mark Ladner, Del Posto *, New York City
Alain Weissgerber, Taubenkobel (**), Schützen am Gebirge
Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park ***, New York City
Fredrik Berselius, Aska **, New York City
Benoit Violier, l’Hotel de Ville ***, Crissier
Frank Giovannini, l’Hotel de Ville ***, Crissier
Kevin Fehling, The Table ***, Hamburg
Yoshihiro Narisawa, Narisawa **, Tokyo
Namae Shinobu, L’Effervescence **, Tokyo
Yoshimi Tanigawa, Kichisen ***, Kyoto
Wassim Halal, Frederikshøj *, Aarhus

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 “Michelin Stars – Tales From The Kitchen” was featured as the prestigious opening film of the Culinary Zinema: Film and Gastronomy Section at the 65th edition of the San Sebastián International Film Festival.

SELECTED PRESS

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“Rather than showing the usual glamorous experience of a diner seated at a table of awarded restaurant, or a peek into the whirring kitchen, this film brings us into the minds of some of the worlds greatest chefs. It is raw, emotional and pulls back the curtain to reveal the pressures felt by many top chefs to achieve the revered Michelin stars and the perception of these achievements or failures by the world’s top critics. They have successfully created a journey that investigates the myths and mysteries surrounding the Michelin stars and the seemingly secretive awarding process.” – Honest Cooking.

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FOOD & WINE: WHAT IT TAKES TO EARN THE COVETED HONOR

“Michelin Stars – Tales from the kitchen” exposes both the greatness and flaws of Guide Michelin and search out a realistic understanding of life behind the often airbrushed scenes of the restaurant industry.”

ESQUIRE: FOOD PORN AND DREAD COLLIDE IN “MICHELIN STARS”

“Michelin is like an ex-boyfriend who never wants to see you again.” – Barbara Eselböck, Taubenkobel.

HONEST COOKING: A GRAND DOCUMENTARY YOU’LL EAT UP

“Filmed over two years, Michelin Stars – Tales From The Kitchen, gives us a behind the scenes look at the lives and stresses of starred chefs with a tale woven together by food critics and diners.”

POV MAGAZINE: WHAT DEFINES GREATNESS IS A MATTER OF TASTE

“The doc doesn’t define the chefs by their stars, but rather by the philosophies and recipes that Michelin aims to spotlight. Tales from the Kitchen serves this foodie delight with the warmth of comfort food to let one savour the good grub that reaches for the stars.”

ROBB REPORT: BEHIND THE SCENES OF EARNING MICHELIN STARS

Chefs Daniel Humm, Rene Redzepi, Yoshimi Tanigawa, Guy Savoy, Andoni Aduriz and others reveal the toll it takes to achieve the food world’s highest honor.

EATER: WATCH TRAILER FOR FINE DINING DOC “MICHELIN STARS”

“Michelin three stars? It is something you don’t even try to dream of,” – Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park.

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In just three weeks the world premiere of ‘Michelin Stars – Tales from the kitchen’ at San Sebastián International Film Festival was covered by more than 100 media in over 14 different languages across the globe.

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SCREENINGS

(updated regularly)

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San Sebastián International Film Sebastian (opening film)
September 2017

Napa Valley Film Festival
November 2017

DOX:BIO Denmark
October 2017

Rendezvous Istanbul International Film Festival
December 2017

Boulder International Film Festival
February 2018

Doc Soup Series, Toronto
March 2018

American Documentary Film Festival
April 2018

Freep Film Festival
April 2018

Newport Beach Film Festival
April 2018

Guadalajara International Film Festival
March 2018

Febiofest – Prague International Film Festival
March 2018
 
Vilnius International Film Festival
March 2018
 
Sofia International Film Festival
March 2018

BAFICI – Buenos Aires International Film Festival
April 2018

Seattle International Film Festival
April 2018

Fontegro Kiev
April 2018

Transilvania International Film Festival
May 2018

Chefs’ Breakfast Moscow
June 2018

Moscow International Gastronomy Film Festival 
July 2018

El Cine Cocina Food Film Festival
September 2018

Woodstock Film Festival
October 2018

Milwaukee Film Festival
October 2018

Dinner & Docs Chicago
October 2018

Newport Beach Film Festival at Sea
October 2018

Coronado Island Film Festival
November 2018

MTÜ Food Film Festival
April 2019

Seoul Int’l Food Film Festival
September 2019

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“I have had the pleasure of viewing ‘Michelin Stars’ twice, and must say that I found it to be thoroughly informative and entertaining. The interviews with chefs, as well as food lovers and critics, all highlight the importance and relevance of the Michelin Guide around the world. We are pleased to see the great interest that ‘Michelin Stars’ has attracted in so many countries.”

– Michael Ellis, Managing Director, Guide Michelin

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In case of interest or/and press,
please contact Kristian Brask Thomsen at:

ambassador@bon-vivant.dk

Bon Vivant Communications is a global gastro embassy specialising in culinary diplomacy, exclusive dinner parties, star chef world tours, cultural marketing, filmmaking and entrepreneurism.

The diplomacy speaks to a strong network of 600 journalists, bloggers and writers, as well as 5000+ global diners around the world.

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