Brazilian chef Franco Sampogna wins Michelin star in New York

Under the command of Brazilian chef and Under 30 2020 Franco Sampogna, the Frevo restaurant in New York has just earned its first Michelin star.

Of contemporary cuisine, it is one of 19 new starred in the city this year, debuting on the select list of 73 establishments recognized by the guide.

Opened in May 2019 by Sampogna and Portuguese restaurateur Bernardo Silva, Frevo is hidden behind an art gallery in Greenwich Village.

Its entrance is through one of the canvases, giving way to a dining room that seats just 14.

There, a six-course authorial tasting menu is served, which changes regularly according to seasonality, sustainability, and availability of local produce.

This month’s menu, for example, features creations such as bluefin tuna with avocado, trout roe, and hazelnut, corn with foie gras and smoked eel, and apple with wasabi, buckwheat, and kaffir lime.

“Frevo is that rare restaurant that goes unnoticed but deserves to be in the spotlight, as Chef Franco Sampogna and his team have weighty resumes,” defined the Michelin guide.

“The small scale only adds to its exclusivity. Enjoy as they prepare contemporary French dishes with a keen eye for texture.”

Now 30 years old, Franco Sampogna was born in Brazil and has focused much of his career in France, working with renowned chefs of the caliber of Alain Ducasse at Hotel Plaza Athénée and Guy Savoy at Rue Troyon.

The recognition is a dream come true for him: “We wanted to create something personal, elegant, combining fine cuisine with a relaxed atmosphere.

“We wanted to reinforce the idea that a restaurant with a tasting menu need not be pretentious and that fine dining is alive, exciting, and invigorating.”

Frevo’s tasting menu costs US$168 per person and can be combined with wine pairing by sommelier Quentin Vauleon for an additional US$115.

With information from Forbes