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For those who don't know, Michelin stars are the hallmark of fine dining. They are not easily obtained, and only the most incredible restaurants and chefs earn them. Needless to say: usually, these eateries are insanely expensive. However, the world's cheapest Michelin-starred meal only cost a couple of dollars! Unfortunately, the street stand recently lost its Michelin star. Read on to see why...
The World’s Cheapest Michelin-Starred Meal In A Hawker
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Singapore's Chef Chan Hong Meng managed to provide local people with a delicious - and incredibly cheap - Soya Chicken Rice Bowl. In 2016, it cost just under $3 at Meng's restaurant, Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle! However, despite the price, Chan earned a Michelin star thanks to the fantastic quality of the meal. In fact, it's the cheapest meal ever to earn a Michelin star. That's right! As you might expect, as soon as Chan became a famous chef worldwide, he decided to expand Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle. The name changed as well: it's now known as Hawker Chan. Unfortunately, the utmost fame didn't last long...
As of this year, Chan has lost the title of "World's Cheapest Michelin-Starred Meal." Even worse, the Michelin guide gave Chan no clue as to why he lost the coveted star. "Chef Chan Hon Meng has prepared his famous soya sauce chicken rice since 2009 with his secret recipe and cooking method, which has not changed since the beginning of Hawker Chan in 2009. He has always believed that his food should be freshly prepared daily and cooking should not be done in (a) central kitchen," a representative for Hawker Chan said. "We do hope to understand why the Michelin Guide has left us out of the list this year. However, we also understand that everyone has their own opinion when it comes to food choices."
Thankfully, Chan and his team are not giving up...
Losing Its Star
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Instead of feeling defeated and throwing in the towel, Chan and his team say they will work harder than ever to regain the Michelin star. "We will continue to serve delicious and affordable meals as that is our vision and mission," the representative said. "We will do our best to earn the star again for the upcoming year." While Chan may have lost the star, it has not hurt business all that much. As of this writing, there are now two Hawker Chan locations in Singapore, and the brand also plans to open a few in different countries in the coming years. Meanwhile, even after losing the star, both Hawker Chan locations always have a long line waiting for the delicious dishes.
What makes the Soya Chicken Rice Bowl so delicious? Well, Chan starts by marinating the chicken with soy sauce and ten different herbs. Then, it's cooked with sauteéd soybeans and served over perfectly made rice. "The chicken was impossibly tender, and the sauce had a rich, balanced flavor. It was a perfect portion size for a filling yet not too heavy lunch," said one food critic.
Michelin star or not, Chef Chan is doing great. However, the world is watching to see if he will earn the title of "World's Cheapest Michelin-Starred Meal" again...
Sources: The Takeout, Yahoo!Finance
