The Pine earns prestigious Michelin Star
Creemore’s newest restaurant, The Pine, has received a coveted Michelin Star recognizing high quality cooking and attracting the attention of foodies everywhere.
Chef Jeremy Austin’s first inkling that his restaurant was being reviewed by the Michelin Guide came when he was contacted last spring to confirm information on The Pine’s website. Then came the invitation to a special event in Toronto on Sept. 18 to announce this year’s winners.
Restaurants are recognized in several categories: Recommended, where inspectors found the food to be above average, but not quite at the Bib or Star level; Bib Gourmand signifying good food and good value; Green Star for restaurants demonstrating commitment to commendable environmental practices; and the Michelin Star, one of the most prestigious international hallmarks in the restaurant industry.
When The Pine was not announced as one of the honourees in the recommended category, Austin says he knew they were getting a star.
“At that point we were nervous and super happy and giddy about what we have achieved,” he said.
Michelin categorizes The Pine as ‘Chinese, Contemporary’: “Located in charming Creemore, north of Toronto
in Simcoe County, find this culinary landmark housed in a chic space that was formerly a gas station. Run by Chef Jeremy Austin and his wife, Cassie, The Pine is a distinct dining experience that is informed by the chef’s years working in China.”
Since the news broke, The Pine has more than 1,000 new followers on Instagram, 16,000 new site log-ins and so many messages of congratulations it’s hard to keep up with responses. The restaurant is now fully booked for Saturdays until December, with other days starting to fill up.
It has also resulted in a flood of applications from people who want to work at there.
“Previously we struggled to attract staff. Now we’re getting emails from all over from people who want to come and work here.”
Early in his restaurant career, Austin lived in communal housing and worked for free at a number of restaurants to build his resumé. Humbled by the honour, Austin says it comes with a certain amount of pressure.
“We were fairly reserved in what we did before,” he said. “For me, getting this attention is what allows us to do more and be better – to do more experimenting and get more deeply into what we do.”
But, he says, it’s a bit like a musician having a great debut album, adding, “You have to think about what you did to get here and the fear of losing it is real.”
The Michelin Guide traces its origins to France in the late 1800s when brothers André and Édouard, founders of Michelin tires, began publishing the guide to encourage driving trips. The first Michelin Stars were awarded to restaurants in 1926. The guide is widely known as a trustworthy source of information for anyone seeking a top tier dining experience. The first Toronto Michelin Guide was published in 2022. This year, for the first time, stars were awarded to three restaurants from outside the city.
Mystery diners visit prospective restaurants under consideration three or four times to rate them on quality of ingredients, mastery of the cooking, harmony of flavours, artistry of the chef, and consistency, both over time and across the entire menu.
The Pine boasts a $195 per person 17-course tasting menu, featuring local ingredients.
“A meal here draws on authentic flavours delivered with striking creativity and conviction on an ever- evolving menu. A gorgeous tea egg kicks things off; the Sichuan-favourite dried fried string beans arrive as a cold salad; and the carrot jiaozi is a delightful dumpling; but those are merely a few of the treasures on offer,” states the guide.
Bonnie MacPherson photo: A 2024 Michelin Star is proudly displayed in the entrance at The Pine, located at 7535 County Road 9. The restaurant opened in Collingwood in 2019 and moved to Creemore this year.
