Painting the Town RED
November 27th, 2009Fever has been hitting many cities as of late (from the 19th of October to be precise). No it’s not the H1N1 virus but the Michelin Guide Fever!
And to kick this post off, a BIG congratulations to Paco and Adam for La Terraza del Casino being promoted to 2 stars! Well done! It was just released yesterday afternoon (Singapore time) in the Portugal and Spain edition.
Before I continue a quick recap of what the guide does. Michelin has been in the business of evaluating and recommending restaurants and hotels for over a century. Professional inspectors who anonymously visit restaurants and hotels, and evaluate them on a range of criteria. Our evaluation process has been honed over time to identify consistently high-quality establishments to suit a range of budgets and across a range of styles and cuisines.
Michelin stars are awarded to restaurants offering the finest cooking, regardless of cuisine style. Stars represent only what is on the plate. They do not take into consideration interior decoration, service quality or table settings.
One Michelin star means a very good cuisine in its category.
Two Michelin stars mean excellent cuisine, worth a detour.
Three Michelin stars mean exceptional and worth the journey.
Included in the 2010 Portugal and Spain edition promotion were El Celler de Can Roca known best for their contributions to sous-vide, run by Joan Roca and his brothers Josep and Jordi being promoted to 3-stars. They are also ranked 5th in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants leaping a huge 21 spots. What a year they are having!
Ferran Adria’s El Bulli has maintained their 3 stars and ranked number 1 in the World’s 50 Best.
New 2-star establishments are Casa Marcial, Lasarte (Hotel Condes de Barcelona), La Terraza del Casino and Les Cols. Bringing a total of 7 three-starred, 12 two-starred and 130 one-starred establishments.
Also just released yesterday afternoon was the Hong Kong Macau edition. Top honours went to the 4 Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong, home to French restaurant Caprice, promoted to 3-stars this year to score the best-possible three-star rating together with Lung King Heen just two floors down.
Next in line was celebrated chef Joël Robuchon maintaining his 3 stars for Galera a Robuchon in Macau, based in the casino haven’s Hotel Lisboa. Also with L’Atelier in Hong Kong maintaining 2 stars, giving him a strong hold of 5 stars in the Asian region of the guide. Petrus at the Island Shangri-La was one of the four restaurants to be promoted to 2-stars.
Restaurants awarded three stars are:
Caprice, 4 Seasons Hotel (N)
Lung King Heen, 4 Seasons Hotel
Galera a Robuchon (Macau)
Restaurants awarded two stars are:
Amber, The Landmark, Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
Fook Lam Moon (Wanchai) (N)
L’Atelier, Joël Robuchon, The Landmark Hong Kong
Ming Court’, LangHam Plance, Mongkok (N)
Petrus, Island, Shangri-La (N)
Shang Palace,Kowloon, Shangri-La
T’ang Court, The LangHam, Hong Kong
Tim’s Kitchen, Lisboa Macau (N)
Earlier in October the US editions were released with Daniel Boulud promoted to 3-stars. An interesting twist as a few places in New York dropped stars. Gordon Ramsay retained his 2-stars in the Big Apple keeping a total of his 12 Michelin Star empire.
Restaurants awarded three stars are:
Daniel (N)
Jean Georges
Le Bernardin
Masa
Per Se
Restaurants awarded two stars are:
Alto (N)
Corton (N)
Gilt
Gordon Ramsay at The London
Momofuku Ko
Picholine
Restaurants awarded one star are:
Adour
Marc Forgione (N)
Annisa
Marea (N)
Anthos
Minetta Tavern (N)
Aureole
Modern (The)
A Voce (N)
Oceana
Blue Hill
Perry Street
Bouley (N)
Peter Luger
Café Boulud
Public
Casa Mono (N)
Rhong-Tiam (N)
Convivio (N)
River Café (N)
Del Posto
Rouge Tomate (N)
Dressler
Saul
eighty one
Seäsonal (N)
Eleven Madison Park (N)
Shalizar (N)
Etats-Unis
SHO Shaun Hergatt (N)
Gotham Bar and Grill
Soto (N)
Gramercy Tavern
Spotted Pig
Insieme
Sushi Azabu (N)
Jewel Bako
Sushi of Gari
Kajitsu (N)
Veritas
Kyo Ya
Wallsé
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
wd~50
Also released earlier this October was the San Francisco edition covering the Bay Area and Wine Country where there were no new 3-stars and 2-stars. Leaving Thomas Keller ahead of the pack with The French Laundry at 3-stars and a total of 6 Michelin stars together with Per Se in New York.
Restaurants awarded three stars are:
The French Laundry
Restaurants awarded two stars are:
Coi
Cyrus
Manresa
The Restaurant at Meadowood
Restaurants awarded one star are:
Acquerello
Luce
Ame
Madrona Manor
Auberge du Soleil
Masa’s
Aziza
Michael Mina
Bouchon
Murray Circle
Boulevard
One Market
Chez Panisse
Plumed Horse
Chez TJ
Quince
Commis Range
The Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton
Redd
El Paseo (now closed)
Santé
étoile Solbar
Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant
Terra
Fifth Floor
Trevese (now closed)
Fleur de Lys
Ubuntu
Gary Danko
The Village Pub
La Folie
La Toque
The fever continues till early of 2010 when the much anticipated guide for London is published just before the French Guide. And the big question stands as to whether Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck in Bray would retain his 3 stars even with the earlier food scare. I think he would and should!
As for the Red Book to reach the little Red Dot, Singapore? I still say it is a long time before it reaches the level. Interests for a guide here has been much talked about. But before any of that, chefs here should re-think their cooking instead of spending too much time cooking to purchased books.
Thanks for reading the long Michelin Post. Happy fooding!!
Click here to see the world’s 50 Best Restaurants 2009.
