Roberto Fani, pictured for Explorator in February, was awarded chef of the year in the 2019 Belux Gault & Millau restaurant guide Sebastien Goosens

Roberto Fani, pictured for Explorator in February, was awarded chef of the year in the 2019 Belux Gault & Millau restaurant guide Sebastien Goosens

The chef was named at a press event on Monday ahead of the print publication of the 2019 Belux guide on 5 November.

The guide, a digital version of which was released on Monday through the Gault & Millau app, is put together by judges who pay anonymous visits to restaurants and pay their bills just like any other customer.

Fani opened his restaurant in Roeser in 2015. A year later his eatery was awarded “Mediterranean restaurant of the year” by Gault & Millau, and in 2017 he received a Michelin star.

Other Luxembourg restaurants awarded in the 2019 edition were Lionel Marchand (La Pomme Cannelle) “Pastry Chef of the Year”, Morris Clip (Tempo) “1st Pop of the Year”, René Mathieu (La Distillerie) “Culinary Innovators Restaurant Philosophy Award 2018”, Anthony Masson (Ma Langue Sourit) “Sommelier of the Year”, Jennifer Murgia-Radelet (Restaurant Yves Radelet) “Hostess of the Year”, Claude Magnin (Postkutsch) “Clin d'œil de l'Année” (nod of the year) and Hannes Graurock (Le Luxembourg) “Discovery of the Year”.

Meanwhile, miller and baker Jean Kircher founder and patron of Pains & tradition in Bascharage was awarded “Personality of the Year” in recognition of the seriousness of his work and the quality of his products.

Other changes to the 2019 guide include 34 new restaurants , including 14 “pop” restaurants, described as “fun and friendly” eateries serving tapas, casual gastronomy or gourmet street food. The rating system has also been tweaked and now includes half points for ratings above 13/20.

The Belux web guide lists 114 Luxembourg restaurants. The book version will be on sale in shops from 5 November for €29.