ONA was a vegan restaurant in Arès, France,[1] owned by chef Claire Vallée and was the first vegan restaurant to receive a Michelin star.[2] The name stands for origine non-animale[3] and the restaurant uses no animal products in its food, decorations or furnishings. ONA was opened in 2016 by Vallée, a self-taught chef, and offered a seven-course tasting menu.[4][5] 95% of its clientele was neither vegan nor vegetarian, the chef said in 2021.[6] The restaurant closed permanently in October 2022.[7]
History
Vallée opened the restaurant using loans from ethical bank La Nef (entreprise) and crowdfunding. The Michelin Guide for 2021 awarded ONA one Michelin star, a first among vegan restaurants.[4][8] ONA was also one of 33 restaurants in France to receive a Green Star,[9] a new category by the Michelin Guide awarded for sustainable practices.[2] In 2018, the restaurant had been awarded a Michelin Fork.[5]
References
- Michelin awards star to vegan restaurant for the first time in France the Guardian, 2021-01-19, retrieved 2021-01-21^
- Aurelien Breeden. Vegan Restaurant Gets Michelin Star in France, a First The New York Times, 2021-01-19, retrieved 2021-01-21^
- ONA: Vegan restaurant becomes first in France to get Michelin star BBC News, 2021-01-19, retrieved 2021-01-21^
- Rob Picheta and Saskya Vandoorne. Vegan restaurant becomes first in France to earn a Michelin star CNN, retrieved 2021-01-21^
- Connexion France. Michelin 2021: Vegan restaurant first in France to win star www.connexionfrance.com, retrieved 2021-01-21^
- Distinguée au Michelin, Claire Vallée, la bonne étoile de la "gastronomie végétale" L'Obs, 2021-01-20, retrieved 2022-03-12^
- En Gironde, ce restaurant ferme définitivement un an après sa première étoile Michelin actu.fr, retrieved 2023-03-05^
- French culinary 1st: Vegan restaurant earns Michelin star ABC News, retrieved 2021-01-21^
- Spencer Whaley. ONA Becomes France's First All-Vegan Eatery With a Michelin Star thebeet.com, 2021-01-19, retrieved 2021-01-27^