Carving History, This Restaurant Owned By A Diploma In Archeology Wins A Michelin Star

JAKARTA - What happens if someone with a Diploma in Archeology and a hobby of cooking opens a restaurant? The answer is the Michelin Star, a prestigious award for players in the culinary industry, like the Grammy Awards in the music world or the Pulitzer for writers.

It is Claire Vallee, a Diploma in Archeology who has successfully managed the ONA restaurant which stands for Origine Non Animale, until she successfully won a Michelin Star. Not just any restaurant, as the name implies, ONA is a vegan restaurant.

Launching CNN, this is history for the first time, there is a vegan restaurant in France that received a Michelin Star. Yes, in the French Michelin Guide dating back to 1900, ONA will be one of the restaurants to receive its first stars in 2021.

Of course, this was not achieved easily. Launching www.clairevallee.com, this started in Switzerland after he finished his diploma. Initially wanting to 'follow in the footsteps' of Indiana Jones as an archaeologist, he instead joined a gastronomy company.

He spent seven years there exploring its potential in cooking with various trips, gaining experience and knowledge. In the eighth year, he decided to move to Thailand.

One year in Thailand, to be precise in Hua Hin, Vallee developed her skills in the field of Asian cuisine. The spices, herbs and vegetables that dominate Thai cuisine, have succeeded in influencing his cooking and eating tastes.

From Thailand, he returned to France and joined the famous gourmet restaurant in Bassin d'Archachon. For two years, he continued to develop vegetarian cuisine and discovered the spirit of veganism. Until finally he founded ONA.

Located in the small southwestern village of Ares, near Bordeaux, France, ONA was founded in 2016 with great struggle. Initially, he experienced limited capital, which led him to conduct fundraising and borrowing from an ethical bank, because no commercial bank was willing to lend to a young chef.

When his money ran out as initial capital, he raised 80 volunteers through social media to help him build ONA. He passed it step by step, until ONA slowly became known. There are seven kinds of vegan menu on offer for 72 US dollars

The mainstay here, yellow zucchini ravioli with black truffle gnocchi and Swiss chard ballotine with vegetable ricotta. The innovation and creativity of the vegan menu proved to be lucky for him, when ONA was rewarded with a Michelin Star.

Vallee admitted that he was overcome with emotion when the International Director of Michelin called him and told him that ONA got a Michelin Star.

"Cooking with my team is like performing in a theater. You never really know how it was received until the end," he told CNN.

"This is a good thing for the vegan community, because this star is proof that French gastronomy is becoming more inclusive. Plant-based dishes are also there," added Vallee.

Not only Michelin Stars, ONA was also rewarded with Green Stars, a special award given to restaurants that are committed to preserving the environment in managing their business.

"The team I work for is very proud. The Michelin and Green Stars are in recognition. This is also for them and the local producers and vegetable farmers we work for," he added.