NORTH MIAMI BEACH (VINnews) – after making history as the first kosher restaurant owner to earn a Michelin Star, chef Raz Shabtai chose to celebrate not in the kitchen, but with tefillin.

Shabtai, the owner and chef of Mutra in North Miami Beach, was joined by Miami Beach shliach Rabbi Zev Katz, who helped him put on tefillin following the announcement of the prestigious culinary honor.

A video of the moment captured Shabtai expressing gratitude for reaching a milestone that many chefs spend their entire careers pursuing. The Michelin Star is widely considered one of the highest distinctions in the restaurant industry.

For Shabtai, however, the achievement was also an opportunity for spiritual reflection.

The chef has often spoken about the influence of his grandmother, after whom the restaurant is named. He credits her not only with teaching him how to cook, but also with shaping his values and outlook on life.

Shabtai said his goal has always been to create food that provides guests with a sense of warmth, comfort and connection. Through Mutra’s Middle Eastern-inspired cuisine, he strives to bring people together regardless of their background or beliefs.

Rabbi Katz said the tefillin ceremony was a meaningful way to acknowledge the blessing of the restaurant’s success and the historic recognition it received.

The Michelin Star marks a breakthrough for kosher dining, placing a kosher restaurant among the world’s most celebrated culinary destinations and demonstrating that kosher cuisine can compete at the highest levels of fine dining.

As Mutra prepares to introduce a new seasonal menu, Shabtai’s Michelin achievement is already being viewed as a landmark moment for the kosher food industry.