HALF MOON BAY — At a star-studded ceremony Monday night, the Michelin Guide International cemented California's status as a foodie mecca by reaffirming all six of the state's three-star restaurants (two greater than New York), recognizing 13 restaurants for his or her two-star cuisine and praising a whole bunch more for his or her impressive cooking, inexpensive meals or high sustainability standards.
The event took place for the primary time on the Bay Area coast, on the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay.
Three restaurants were awarded two stars on the event. Two of them – Aubergine in Carmel and Sons & Daughters in San Francisco – were upgraded from their previous one-star level, while Vespertine, a newly opened restaurant in Culver City, jumped onto the list with two stars. Michelin inspectors who visited this restaurant raved about chef Jordan Kahn's “boldly inventive” cuisine, in addition to his recent concept that takes diners from floor to floor because the meal progresses.
Seven restaurants have joined forces on the one-star level: Hilda and Jesse, Kiln and seven Adams, all in San Francisco; Holbox, Meteora and Uka, all in Los Angeles; and R/O Rebel Omakase in Orange County (Laguna Beach).
“California continues to shine as we evolve and highlight the culinary scene
“The Michelin Guides are committed to promoting emerging talent and cuisines,” said Gwendal Poullennec, the international director of the Michelin Guides, in an announcement released ahead of the event. “This year, we are delighted to welcome 10 new restaurants to the Michelin-starred family, in addition to a new green star.”
He added: “Our judges continue to be impressed with this year's selections and we toast and celebrate the award-winning chefs and restaurant teams. The wide range of culinary offerings will delight foodies from near and far and continue to put California on the map.”
While ten California restaurants received stars, several lost theirs. One of them is the long-time award-winning Gary Danko Restaurant, a San Francisco dining institution for 1 / 4 century. Chef Danko's eponymous restaurant, which opened in 1999, had had a star since 2007.
Other restaurants not on the Michelin star list include Barndiva (Healdsburg), Sushi Shin (Redwood City) and Sushi Yoshizumi (San Mateo) within the Bay Area, and Maude (Beverly Hills), Q Sushi (Los Angeles) and Sushi Tadokoro (San Diego) in Southern California. However, they continue to be within the guide as “recommended” restaurants.
Three restaurants were faraway from the choice because they’ve closed: Avery (San Francisco), Manzke (Los Angeles) and Taco Maria (Costa Mesa).
Two Southern California restaurants that had received two stars in 2023 – Sushi Ginza Onodera in West Hollywood and N/Naka in Los Angeles – also dropped to one-star status this 12 months.
As with all changes in star level, the Michelin inspectors – who remain anonymous – don’t comment on removals from the guide or changes in star level. In accordance with Michelin protocol, they revisit all previous winners and recent nominees, making an allowance for five criteria: quality of food, harmony of flavours, mastery of technique, personality of the chef and his cuisine, and consistency between visits.
The repeat three-star winners on Monday were Dominique Crenn's Atelier Crenn, Corey Lee's Benu and Michael Tusk's Quince, all in San Francisco; Thomas Keller's The French Laundry in Yountville; SingleThread in Healdsburg by chef Kyle Connaughton and farmer Katina Connaughton; and Addison in San Diego. Crenn and Katina Connaughton are the one two women within the United States with three stars.
Two-star Bay Area restaurants defending their distinction included Chef James Syhabout's Commis in Oakland, and Acquerello, Birdsong, Californios, Lazy Bear and Saison in San Francisco.
In the South Bay/Peninsula, George Aviet's Chez TJ of Mountain View has been awarded one other star; the restaurant has been Michelin-rated for 17 years under the assorted chefs. Stan Michalski is the chief chef within the kitchen of the Victorian home.
Both the Plumed Horse in Saratoga, helmed by Chef Peter Armellino, and the Village Pub in Woodside, led by Chef Mark Sullivan, retained the one-star status they’d held since 2009.
Other one-star recipients from this region included Protégé in Palo Alto, Selby's in Atherton and Wakuriya in San Mateo.
Michelin again awarded a star to the 2 San Francisco restaurants owned by chefs Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski – State Bird Provisions and The Progress. Brioza, from Cupertino (who grew up in Danville), and Krasinski, from Los Gatos, met at De Anza College in Cupertino after which headed to the Midwest to further their culinary careers before returning to the Bay Area.
A green star for sustainability went to Vespertine.
This 12 months, a complete of 85 restaurants with 17 different cuisines received the coveted stars. That is 2 fewer than last 12 months, when 87 restaurants were awarded stars. Three stars mean “exceptional cuisine that is worth a special trip”, two stars “excellent cuisine that is worth a detour” and one star “high-quality cuisine that is worth a visit”.
When other categories similar to good value for money and sustainability efforts are added, 577 California restaurants are praised within the 2024 Michelin Guide.
This is a developing story. Please come back for updates.
Originally published:
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