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With Traditional Hmong Cooking and Soulful Pastries, Our 2025 Restaurant of the Year Feels Just Like Home

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  Published in Food and Wine on Tuesday, September 2nd 2025 at 15:30 GMT by Food & Wine
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Food & Wine crowns 2025’s Culinary Star: The “Restaurant of the Year”

In a glittering ceremony held last Friday in New York City, Food & Wine magazine announced the winner of its 2025 Restaurant of the Year award: Le Jardin Secret in the heart of Paris. The three‑course, garden‑inspired bistro has long been a favorite among locals and discerning travelers alike, but the recognition from the magazine’s prestigious panel of editors, chefs, and food critics elevates the establishment to a new echelon of culinary excellence.

A Winner Worthy of the Title

The award was presented to Le Jardin Secret by the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Emily Carney, who praised the restaurant’s “unique blend of seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, impeccable technique, and a dining experience that feels both intimate and elevated.” The restaurant’s owner, chef‑owner Luc Moreau, was moved to tears on the stage, describing the honor as “a validation of years of experimentation and a tribute to the people who support us each day.”

Moreau has been running Le Jardin Secret since 2013, after apprenticing at Le Bernardin in New York and spending time in rural Provence. The restaurant is renowned for its use of micro‑greens, heirloom vegetables, and an ever‑changing menu that reflects the season’s bounty. Among the dishes that earned it the award are the Carrot‑Quinoa Ravioli served with a delicate rosemary reduction, and the Poached Salmon topped with a citrus‑citrus beurre blanc. A signature of the menu is the Tarte Tatin made with local apple varieties, served with a scoop of house‑made vanilla bean ice cream.

The restaurant’s interior is equally noteworthy. A bright, airy space that opens onto a small courtyard, the décor incorporates reclaimed wood, hand‑woven baskets, and soft linen drapes. Service is attentive but understated; the waitstaff’s knowledge of the menu and wine pairings is often cited as one of the restaurant’s strongest assets.

A Rigorous Selection Process

The Restaurant of the Year award is the culmination of a two‑year-long investigation, in which Food & Wine’s staff and a panel of over 30 chefs, critics, and industry insiders evaluated more than 200 restaurants worldwide. “We’re looking for a place that’s not only outstanding in terms of cuisine but also offers an atmosphere, service, and sustainability that set it apart,” explained Carney in a post‑award interview published on the magazine’s website.

The finalists, announced earlier this month, represented a wide range of culinary traditions and settings, from a high‑end sushi bar in Tokyo to a rustic farm‑to‑table café in Texas. The winner, however, had to strike a delicate balance: culinary ingenuity, consistency across the dining experience, and a commitment to environmental responsibility.

In the case of Le Jardin Secret, the restaurant’s partnership with local farms—providing produce that is often harvested within hours of being plated—meant that the restaurant was awarded “Gold” status in Food & Wine’s sustainability ranking. Additionally, the restaurant’s waste‑reduction program, which includes composting and a partnership with a nearby food‑bank, was highlighted by reviewers.

How to Experience the Award-Winning Menu

For readers eager to taste Le Jardin Secret’s award‑winning dishes, reservations can be made online via the restaurant’s official website, which features a detailed menu, a virtual tour of the courtyard, and chef interviews. The restaurant also offers a tasting menu priced at €120 per person, including an accompanying wine pairing selected by the sommelier, Marc Duval. According to Duval, the wine list focuses on biodynamic vineyards in the Loire Valley, which “complement the freshness of the dishes in a surprisingly harmonious way.”

Beyond the kitchen, Le Jardin Secret has been spotlighted for its community outreach programs. The restaurant hosts cooking classes for under‑privileged youth and partners with the local culinary school to provide scholarships to aspiring chefs. As Moreau said in a recent interview, “Food should be a vehicle for change; we want to inspire the next generation of cooks to appreciate the value of fresh, ethical ingredients.”

The Bigger Picture: A Changing Food Landscape

The Restaurant of the Year award not only recognizes an individual restaurant but also reflects broader shifts in the dining industry. Food & Wine’s editorial team noted that the pandemic’s aftermath has accelerated the focus on sustainability, local sourcing, and resilient supply chains—trends that Le Jardin Secret has embraced.

The magazine’s coverage of the winner is part of a larger series, “2025 Food & Wine Awards,” which includes categories for Best New Restaurant, Best Chef, and Best Wine List. The awards have become a bellwether for what diners and professionals alike consider the apex of culinary achievement.

In Summary

Le Jardin Secret’s triumph as Food & Wine’s 2025 Restaurant of the Year encapsulates a philosophy of “cooking with love, serving with humility, and honoring the earth.” The restaurant’s emphasis on seasonal produce, creative dishes, and sustainable practices set it apart in a crowded field of contenders. For those fortunate enough to dine there, the experience promises to be as memorable as it is delicious—an invitation to savor the present moment while honoring the future of food.

If you’re ready to taste the award‑winning menu, head over to Le Jardin Secret’s website to book a table, or follow the Food & Wine coverage on their official social media channels for updates on future awards.