Renowned restaurant guide Michelin on Tuesday dropped one among its occasional mid-season lists of “new discoveries” – restaurants which have impressed its reviewers.
In this round, all five are in Southern California. One is in Ventura County, one is in Orange County and three is in Los Angeles County. A March list highlighted one restaurant in San Francisco and nine restaurants in Southern California. A listing in December recognized three restaurants in San Francisco and 4 in Southern California.
“The Michelin Guide inspection team continually evaluates new restaurants for the guide while on-site exploring destinations and new establishments,” a spokeswoman said.
These five firms are listed within the “New” directory guide.michelin.com. Michelin first highlighted “new discoveries” in the summertime of 2021 and has done so yearly since.
Will the praise for these restaurants be elevated to Michelin stars later this yr? Or will you change into a Bib Gourmand, the Michelin award given to restaurants that supply their guests “excellent food at reasonable prices”? For these chefs, it's a wait-and-see situation.
The most up-to-date Michelin guide for the state, released in July 2023, cemented California's status as a culinary mecca by acknowledging all six of the state's three-star restaurants and all twelve two-star restaurants, in addition to lots of of others for his or her impressive Kitchen and its reasonably priced meals praised or high sustainability standards.
Here is the list of additives, together with food notes from the Michelin inspectors:
CEDRO ITALIAN RESTAURANT, Thousand Oaks (Newbury Park): “Three Italian friends came together to open this welcoming space, named after their grandparents' love of cedro or lemon plants. Don't let the mall location fool you – this place is particularly welcoming and the food is authentically Italian in both technique and taste. Made by hand, pasta dishes are very important. Tagliatelle garnished with a ragu sauce, grated Parmesan and a drizzle of high-quality olive oil are proof that good ingredients and special care always deliver the best results. Osso buco, served on a bed of saffron risotto, is wonderfully tender and flavorful and the right size for sharing. End the evening on a sweet note with tiramisu or panna cotta – neither will disappoint.”
ELF CAFE, Los Angeles (Echo Park): “There are no elves in charge at this intimate venue, but with only three people manning the kitchen throughout the service, they certainly work like Santa’s helpers. Since it's a wine bar, expect a nice selection of bottles, but there are also ciders and beers, as well as non-alcoholic offerings. Originally entirely vegetarian, Elf Café has adapted its Mediterranean menu to include animal proteins. A typical example? The lamb skewers, marinated and fried to a crispy crust. Paired with a refreshing yogurt sauce and onions with sumac, it's skillful and filling. For a vegetable-focused plate, consider the maitake, grilled over a wood fire, topped with chimichurri, and served over mashed potato with a ramekin of ají verde for dipping. Craving something sweet? Warm date cake with rich caramel sauce and pomegranate seeds will do the trick.”
FUNNY, Culver City: “This space from chef Bernhard Mairinger is clean and modern with pops of bright red for a playful touch. It is focused on Austria, but includes influences from all over the world. The dishes are suitable for sharing and the wine list is as interesting as the menu, with the selection being common in Central Europe. Order it as a flight and pair it with creative dishes like “Paprikash” steak tartare, a twist on the standard appetizer mixed with smoked paprika and topped with grilled asparagus, a raw quail egg and a Kaiser roll. Perfectly thin and crispy Wiener Schnitzel is then finished with blistered shishito peppers and mashed fried potatoes, while a cranberry-yuzu chutney adds a stunning sweetness to the dish.”
MANOHAR'S DELHI PALACE, La Puente: “Manohar's Delhi Palace is a staple thanks to its delicious Punjabi cuisine and the welcoming atmosphere of this eatery is particularly friendly and attentive. The food here is rather mild, which suggests the focus on northern India. So don't expect any spices. Order à la carte or enjoy the tandoori dinner, but be sure to order the samosas, fried to perfection and topped with the comforting filling of potatoes and peas. Chicken Tikka Masala consists of a generous amount of tender and juicy chicken that is skewered and seared before being added to the rich sauce. For dessert, the Gulab Jamun is a clear winner.”
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