01/07/2026
I want to start by thanking everyone for all of the kind messages today it’s been crazy, what a wonderful and overwhelming night we had yesterday. Getting a Michelin star was something I never thought possible for my career, you just cook the food you love and hope people enjoy it. After hearing about Michelin being in NZ you start to think it could be a possibility but that’s it. My dream as a young chef became a reality last night and we received 1 Michelin star, I’m stunned and absolutely delighted. I’m so proud of our team at kika past and present and I owe all the gratitude in the world to them and their amazing work. It’s been a challenging year balancing restaurant life with the addition of my 1st child so this feels extra special. Huge congratulations to all the other restaurants that were recognised, we also managed to pick up a spot on the guide for our sister restaurant arc and a Bib Gourmand for Paloma. What a night!
Thanks everyone, Chef James