Grand Hotel Stockholm's Matsalen Awarded Michelin Star

MATHIAS DAHLGREN IS A RISING STAR

First Michelin Star Award For Matsalen at Grand Hôtel Stockholm

STOCKHOLM, March 26, 2008 - Grand Hôtel Stockholm is delighted to announce that only nine months after opening, Matsalen at Mathias Dahlgren Restaurant has received its first Michelin Star. In addition, Matsalen received the distinction of being only one of five restaurants in Europe classed within the 'Rising Star For Two' category - the highest award which a new restaurant can achieve in the Michelin Guide Main Cities of Europe 2008.

Michelin, regarded as the restaurant industry's highest accolade, recognizes Executive Chef Mathias Dahlgren's personal philosophy of 'Natural Cuisine' combining the very best quality in fresh, local, and global produce with culinary skill.  The Guide praised Mathias for his "vibrant use of high quality ingredients," "tasty and inventive modern Swedish cooking," and "charming and professional service" in a "classically comfortable...formal yet relaxed" environment.

The accolade of 'Rising Star For Two' category, marks Matsalen as fast on its way to receiving its second Michelin Star. 

Dahlgren commented: "It is of great importance to receive the acknowledgement for me as a person, for my idea and for the entire team."

Mathias's objective of creating a new Swedish identity resonates through his offering in cuisine and through every detail of the restaurant's design - a result of his collaboration with leading British designer and Creative Director Ilse Crawford.  Ilse and her team have drawn upon the traditional roots of Sweden and the global and modern influences of Stockholm to establish two different restaurant environments which complement each other.  As a result, Michelin has awarded the interiors of Matsalen with four knives and forks, which indicates top class comfort.

Matsalen, the à la carte private Dining Room, accommodates 38 people in a quietly sophisticated space as part of a dual restaurant concept, with Matbaren, The Food Bar, which is more intimate and casual in its design and atmosphere.  Both restaurants offer the freshest ingredients on their daily changing menus, but epicureans will find Matsalen to feature creative cuisine in a traditional presentation, where as Matbaren offers traditional Swedish cuisine in a more creative form. 

Receiving a Michelin Star is yet another string to the bow of Mathias Dahlgren and his team who opened the restaurant in May 2007 and have already accumulated a wealth of awards and accolades, including Best New Restaurant 2007 / 2008 in Wallpaper* and Monocle magazines; Best Restaurant Interior Experience 2008 within Sweden's White Guide, a well respected restaurant guide; Best Interior Design (Restaurant) at The European Design Awards 2007 and scored maximum points in Sweden's leading national newspapers Dagens Industri Nyheter and Svenska Dagbladet.

The Michelin Guide Main Cities of Europe 2008 is available in stores now.

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