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Atelier Crenn Shines Bright with Michelin Guide 2013 Star Announcements

The 2013 Michelin Guide for San Francisco goes on sale today and in it, brings a new two-star recipient to the forefront. Atelier Crenn is the latest restaurant to receive two Michelin stars, and this also makes Dominique Crenn, the very first female in the U.S. to receive the coveted honor.

I spent time with Chef Crenn and the team at Atelier Crenn on this special evening, and in case you are wondering what Crenn and crew did on one of the most exciting days of their careers, the answer is plain and simple. Back of the house cooked, while front of the house served their guests a memorable meal and experience. Focus, attention to detail, and passion for their craft, is what elevated Atelier Crenn to this level and even on one of the biggest nights of their profession, they weren't about to stop delivering.

 

       A Walk in the Forest - An Atelier Crenn Signature Dish

           Chef de Cuisine Michael Evans & Dominique Crenn

Grains & Seeds - Smoked and toasted w/botarga, trout roe, dashi

  Pastry Chef Juan Contreras creating a meticulous Fall dessert

Spiced brioche, candied acorn, apple, squash, celery root

                            Edible Hibiscus Leaves

       Mint Cotton Candy - a refreshing palate cleanser

                    Post-service kitchen team celebrating

Atelier Crenn - excellent cuisine, worth a detour **

SEE MORE ATELIER CRENN RECEIVES 2 MICHELIN STAR PHOTOS HERE

2013 Michelin Guide Starred Restaurants for San Francisco

The seventh edition of the MICHELIN Guide San Francisco Bay Area & Wine Country will officially go on sale tomorrow, and the much anticipated star recipients were announced today. In Michelin tradition, the chefs received personal phone calls this morning before the entire list was released to the public. The big news was the rise of Atelier Crenn to two stars making Dominique Crenn the first U.S. female chef to receive two Michelin stars. The addition of Atelier Crenn sees six restaurants awarded two Michelin stars in the S.F. Bay Area. 

Thirty-four restaurants earned one Michelin star, a significant culinary accomplishment that can be defined as “a very good restaurant in its category.” The three newcomers to the category are All Spice, SPQR and Keiko à Nob Hill.         

Here is a full list of the MICHELIN Guide San Francisco Bay Area & Wine Country 2013 Starred establishments:

***Three stars
Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey 

The French Laundry

The Restaurant at Meadowood

 

** Two stars
Excellent cuisine, worth a detour
 
Atelier Crenn
Baume
Benu
Coi
Manresa
Saison
 

*One star
A very good restaurant in its category

Acquerello
Alexander's Steakhouse (South Bay)
All Spice
Ame
Auberge du Soleil
Aziza
Bouchon
Boulevard
Campton Place
Chez TJ
Commis
Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant
Frances
Gary Danko
Keiko à Nob Hill
La Costanera
La Folie
La Toque
Luce
Madera
Madrona Manor
Masa's
Michael Mina
Plumed Horse
Quince
Redd
Solbar
Sons & Daughters
SPQR
Spruce
Terra
Terrapin Creek
The Village Pub
Wakuriya 

SOURCE Michelin

MICHELIN Guide San Francisco 2013 Bib Gourmand Selections

This year 70 establishments made the list—a list that represents a sizable geographic area, including the entire Bay Area and Wine Country.

The 2013 Bib Gourmands were selected by Michelin's esteemed and anonymous food inspectors and they represent restaurants that serve two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less (tax and gratuity not included). Most importantly, they are the restaurants that the company's inspectors frequent themselves.

While the famous Michelin stars remain the most celebrated international distinction in the MICHELIN Guide, the Bib Gourmand is also a highly desired distinction among restaurateurs. In the 2013 edition, 21 different types of cuisine are represented among the Bib Gourmands and include restaurants across the region, including San Francisco, East Bay, Wine Country, Marin, South Bay and the Peninsula.

The Bib Gourmands are selected by Michelin's famously anonymous inspectors who dine across the area regularly. These local inspectors are trained to scrupulously apply the same time-tested methods used by Michelin inspectors for many decades throughout the world. This ensures a uniform, international standard of excellence.  As a further guarantee of complete objectivity, Michelin inspectors pay all their bills in full. For more information on the inspectors and the guide go to www.michelinguide.com

San Francisco MICHELIN Guide 2013

Bib Gourmands =

Area	District	Restaurant
East Bay	Lafayette	Artisan Bistro
San Francisco	Marina	A 16
San Francisco	Mission	Bar Bambino
San Francisco	Mission	Bar Tartine
East Bay	Oakland	Bellanico
San Francisco	Marina	Betelnut
San Francisco	Marina	Bistro Aix
Wine Country	Napa Valley	Bistro Jeanty
Wine Country	Sonoma County	Bistro 29
Wine Country	Sonoma County	Boon Eat + Drink
Marin	Corte Madera	Brick & Bottle
San Francisco	Richmond & Sunset	Burma Superstar
Wine Country	Napa Valley	C Casa
San Francisco	Richmond & Sunset	Chapeau!
East Bay	Lafayette	Chevalier
East Bay	Oakland	Chu
East Bay	Berkeley	Comal
San Francisco	Castro	Contigo
Wine Country	Napa Valley	Cook St. Helena
East Bay	Berkeley	Corso
San Francisco	North Beach	Cotogna
Peninsula	Redwood City	Crouching Tiger
Wine Country	Sonoma County	Cucina Paradiso
San Francisco	Mission	Delfina
San Francisco	Civic Center	Domo
Peninsula	Redwood City	Donato Enoteca
San Francisco	Marina	Dosa
East Bay	Berkeley	FIVE
San Francisco	Mission	flour + water
San Francisco	SoMa	Fringale
San Francisco	Mission	Gajalee
East Bay	Berkeley	Gather
South Bay	Saratoga	Hachi Ju Hachi
Wine Country	Sonoma County	Hot Box Grill
Marin	San Anselmo	Insalata's
East Bay	Berkeley	Ippuku
South Bay	Santa Clara	Kabab & Curry's
San Francisco	Richmond & Sunset	Kappou Gomi
Wine Country	Sonoma County	K & L Bistro
San Francisco	North Beach	Kokkari Estiatorio
Wine Country	Sonoma County	LaSalette
San Francisco	SoMa	Le Charm
Marin	Sausalito	Le Garage
San Francisco	Marina	Mamacita
Marin	San Anselmo	Marinitas
San Francisco	SoMa	Marlowe
Wine Country	Sonoma County	Monti's Rotisserie
Wine Country	Napa Valley	Oenotri
San Francisco	Richmond & Sunset	Old Mandarin Islamic
Peninsula	San Mateo	Osteria Coppa
San Francisco	Financial District	Perbacco
East Bay	Oakland	Plum
Wine Country	Napa Valley	Redd Wood
Wine Country	Sonoma County	Risibisi
East Bay	Berkeley	Rivoli
Wine Country	Sonoma County	Sazon
Wine Country	Sonoma County	Scopa
San Francisco	Richmond & Sunset	Sichuan Home
San Francisco	Financial District	Slanted Door (The)
San Francisco	Mission	Slow Club
San Francisco	Marina	Sociale
San Francisco	Castro	Starbelly
Marin	Sausalito	Sushi Ran
East Bay	Danville	Thai House
Wine Country	Sonoma County	the girl & the fig
San Francisco	Richmond & Sunset	Troya
Wine Country	Sonoma County	Willi's Wine Bar
East Bay	Oakland	Wood Tavern
San Francisco	SoMa	Yank Sing
San Francisco	SoMa	Zero Zero

 

SOURCE Michelin

Friends of James Beard Foundation 25th Anniversary Dinner

Introduction of Chefs at the Friends of James Beard Foundation 25th Anniversary Benefit Dinner held at The Venetian/Palazzo, Las Vegas.

  

First Course - Bouchon Chef Jacob Wetherington's Roasted Heirloom Beet Salad Sunchokes, Petite Mache, Black Truflle Vinaigrette paired with a Riesling: Hugel Alsace; 2010

Second Course - B&B/ Carnevino Chef Jason Neve's Hand-Made Orecchiette with local Spring vegetables, Arugulat Pesto & Mangalista Pancetta paired with a Bastianich Vespa Blanco; 2009

Third Course - Table 10/ Delmonico Executive Chef Sean Roe's Roasted Sturgeon with Wild Mushrooms, Fava Beans and Red Wine Sauce paired with a Pinot Noir; Hallberg Ranch, Russian River Valley; Emeritus; 2009

Fourth Course - Valentino Chef Luciano Pellegrini's Spring Lamb Medallions over a fava bean puree with a Spring Garlic-flavored demiglace, served with white asparagus tips, butter fried potato tourne, wild mushrooms and fava beans paired with a a Catiglion Del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino; 2004

Chef Olivier Dubreuil's Criollo Chocolate dessert - Chocololate Mascarpone cream, Nougatine Tuile, Sweet Amarena Cherries with Balsamic Reduction

For more photos, visit our James Beard Foundation Dinner Photo Album 

James Beard Foundation Awards Brunch - The Venetian/Palazzo Las Vegas

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of attending the official press conference announcing the finalists for the 2012 James Beard Foundation Awards. An invitation-only brunch paired with the highly-anticipated news was held at the The Venetian and Palazzo on the Las Vegas strip. The Venetian houses more James Beard Award winners than any other property worldwide, so it was fitting that both the finalist broadcast and a 25th Anniversary Friends of James Beard Foundation Benefit Dinner later that evening were held on premise.

James Beard's Susan Ungaro, Mitchell Davis, Woody Campbell, John Washko

   Spring Pea Agnolotti w/ Crème fraîche & wild morels

Not surprisingly, the brunch menu was plentiful and consisted of liquid wake-me-ups, small plates, live stations and a tempting dessert selection. From a made-to-order House-Smoked Steelhead Buckwheat Crepe with a Fresh Duck Egg, to a basket of European Pastries (I ate three), this brunch was one of those decadent celebrations that Vegas is so good at throwing. Spotted in the crowd were a number of celebrated Las Vegas food and beverage professionals and media including Chef Julian Serrano, Master Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim, Ivo Angelov of Le Cirque and Robin Leach who I will always remember as the host of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.  

The full list of the 2012 James Beard Foundation Award finalists can be found HERE. The James Beard Foundation Awards, often called the "Oscars of the Food World" is a prestigious program honoring professionals in the food and beverage industries. This year's Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception will take place on Monday, May 7, 2012 at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York City and will be hosted by multiple James Beard Award–winning celebrity chef, television personality, and author Alton Brown.

To purchase tickets for the 2012 James Beard Foundation Awards, visit HERE

For more info on dining at The Venetian and The Palazzo, visit HERE

For more photos, visit our James Beard at The Venetian/Palazzo Photo Album.

A Slice of Italy (and James Beard) at Palazzo/Venetian Las Vegas

Stay tuned for the James Beard finalist announcements live today at 11am from the Venetian/Palazzo Las Vegas! There will also be a Friends of James Beard 25th Anniversary Benefit dinner featuring some of Vegas' most acclaimed chefs and restaurants tonight on property. A few tickets for this highly anticipated event are still available via the Palazzo/Venetian website (click on image above).

I'll be posting pics via Instagram, Twitter and our Food Fashionista Facebook page along with a full recap of the festivities here on the blog as soon as I return back to Cali.

Ciao for now...

MICHELIN Guide San Francisco 2012 Stars Announced

 

 

The List ("*" denotes a newly starred restaurant in that category):

THREE STARS (exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey)

French Laundry (The)
Restaurant at Meadowood

TWO STARS (excellent cuisine, worth a detour)

Baumé*
Benu*
Coi
Cyrus
Manresa
Saison

ONE STAR (a very good restaurant in its category)

Acquerello
Alexander’s Steakhouse
Ame
Applewood
Atelier Crenn*
Auberge du Soleil
Aziza
Bouchon
Boulevard
Campton Place
Chez TJ
Commis
Dio Deka
étoile
Farmhouse Inn & Rest.
Fleur de Lys
Frances
Gary Danko
La Costanera*
La Folie
La Toque
Luce
Madera
Madrona Manor
Masa’s
Michael Mina*
One Market
Plumed Horse
Quince
Redd
Santé
Solbar
Sons & Daughters*
Spruce
Terra
Terrapin Creek*
Ubuntu
Village Pub (The)
Wakuriya

2012 Michelin Guide New York City Restaurants Announced

 
 

2012 MICHELIN GUIDE NEW YORK CITY STARRED RESTAURANTS

Three Michelin stars mean exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey
One always eats here extremely well, sometimes superbly.  Distinctive dishes are precisely executed, using superlative ingredients.

Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare
Daniel
Eleven Madison Park
Jean Georges
Le Bernardin
Masa
Per Se


Two Michelin stars mean excellent cuisine, worth a detour
Skillfully and carefully crafted dishes of outstanding quality

Corton
Gilt
Gordon Ramsay at The London
Kajitsu
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon
Marea
Momofuku Ko
SHO Shaun Hergatt
Soto

One Michelin star  means a very good restaurant in its category
A place offering cuisine prepared to a consistently high standard

Adour
Ai Fiori
Aldea
Annisa
Aureole
A Voce Columbus
A Voce Madison
Blue Hill
Bouley
The Breslin
Brushstroke
Cafe Boulud
Casa Mono
Danji
Danny Brown Wine Bar & Kitchen
Dovetail
Dressler
Gotham Bar and Grill
Gramercy Tavern
Heartbreak
Jewel Bako
Junoon
Kyo Ya
Laut
Marc Forgione
Minetta Tavern
The Modern
Oceana
Peter Luger
Picholine
Public
River Cafe
Rosanjin
Rouge Tomate
Saul
Seasonal
Spotted Pig
Sushi Azabu
Sushi of Gari
Tamarind Tribeca
Tori Shin
Tulsi
Veritas
Wallse
WD-50

2011 James Beard Award Winners

 

updated: May 9, 2011

Tonight in New York, the Oscars of the food world were in full effect. Initial awards for the James Beard Award announcements for Broadcast Media, Book and Journalism categories were presented on Friday. The fates of the remaining categories were unveiled tonight at a star-studded gala in NYC along with streaming internet updates via the James Beard's official twitter account @beardfoundation. 

Huge congrats to all the winners and nominees! 

S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants 2011

Congratulations to Rene Redzepi and team at NOMA in Copenhagen, Denmark which claimed the coveted repeat spot at Number 1 for S. Pellegrino's World's Best Restaurants. If you were surprised to see El Bulli omitted from this year's list, it's due to the scheduled closing of the famed restaurant in future months for a rebirth into a foundation. Even sans a 2011 award, El Bulli will remain a top restaurant in the hearts and appetites of the many who were fortunate enough to have dined there.

Here are S. Pellegrino's World's 50 Best Restaurants for 2011: