Michelin allows French top French chef to relinquish stars

PARIS – The Michelin guide has allowed a three-star chef to withdraw his restaurant from its prestigious listings.

Sebastien Bras had announced in September that he didn't want Le Suquet restaurant in southern France to figure in the guide anymore because of the huge pressure involved.

Michelin said on Tuesday it granted Bras' request, and that his restaurant wouldn't be listed in the 2018 edition of the guide.

In a statement to The Associated Press, Bras praised Michelin for the move and said he would still be seeking "excellence."

There have been other cases of chefs giving up their three-stars, the highest recognition in the world of fine dining. In 2005, the late Alain Senderens rejected his stars when transforming the Parisian temple of gastronomy Lucas Carton into a lower-priced establishment.