Michelin Guide debuts its statewide California Guide

***Welcome back to California, Bibendum!***
*photo credit: mika takeuchi*

On a comfortably breezy afternoon in sunny Southern California, MICHELIN, the French tire company – known for independently creating the only worldwide restaurant guide with strictly anonymous inspectors announced its coveted restaurant star selections for the inaugural 2019 MICHELIN Guide California, the first statewide Guide in the United States.

***Three-Star*** **Chefs Corey Lee (Benu) and Christoper Kostow (The Restaurant at Meadowood)**
*photo credit: michelin*

With an endless backdrop of bright, blue skies and the Pacific Ocean, chefs from around The Golden State gathered in anticipation for their names to be called in the one, two and three-star categories for the new MICHELIN Guide California which for the first time had inspectors venturing out to other parts of California besides the Bay Area to expand the existing San Francisco MICHELIN Guide which is released every fall.

***Guests were treated to Petrossian Caviar during the California MICHELIN Guide event***
*photo credit: mika takeuchi*

With an abundant offering of dining options in California which has its benefit of plentiful fresh produce all year round, I have no doubt that the narrowing of restaurant choices for the Guide was a task at hand, but after the selections, over 660 restaurants are featured in this first edition Guide. These include the Bib Gourmands (Inspector’s favorites for good value), Michelin Plate (Good cooking, fresh ingredients, capably prepared: simply a good meal), 69 restaurants with one star (High quality cooking, worth a stop), 14 restaurants with two stars (Excellent cuisine, worth a detour) and seven restaurants with three stars (Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey).

***Palm trees, hearts, ocean waves and the Golden Gate…I’m digging the new California logo***
photo credit: mika takeuchi

“California’s trendsetting, laid-back and health-conscious culinary scene continues to boom, and as a result is an amazing showcase for the great local produce.” – Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the MICHELIN Guides

***MICHELIN Star made of California Avocados***
*photo credit: mika takeuchi*

***Chefs Justin Cogley (Aubergine) and Michael Cimarusti (Providence)***
*photo credit: mika takeuchi*

**Aonori & Heirloom Corn Tamale with Santa Barbara Uni, Sweet Peas and Spring Onion from Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group. Although Wolfgang Puck’s CUT received a star this year, I** wouldn’t be surprised to see another of his restaurants **on the list in the future.**
*photo credit: mika takeuchi*

**Chef Jordan Kahn (Vespertine) just before the announcement of his two MICHELIN Stars**
*photo credit: mika takeuchi*

Chef Dominique Crenn, who also happens to be one of my best friends unfortunately couldn’t attend the event in person, so I made sure she had a copy of the new MICHELIN Guide California that evening before midnight. She and her team received Three Stars for Atelier Crenn and One Star for Bar Crenn. **She is the first woman in the United States to earn Three MICHELIN Stars.**
*photo credit: mika takeuchi*

***It wouldn’t be 2019 without an outdoor aerial shot of the star recipients***
*photo credit: michelin*

Congratulations to all of the California restaurants who received the 2019 MICHELIN Star distinction:

Three Stars
Atelier Crenn

Benu

The French Laundry

Manresa

Quince

The Restaurant at Meadowood

Single Thread

Two Stars
Acquerello

Baumé

Californios

Campton Place

Coi

Commis

Lazy Bear

n/naka

Providence

Saison

Somni

Sushi Ginza

Onodera

Urasawa

Vespertine

One Star
Addison

Al’s Place

Angler

Aster (closed)

Auberge du Soleil

Aubergine

Bar Crenn

Birdsong

Bistro Na’s

Bouchon

Chez TJ

Commonwealth

CUT

Dialogue

Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant

Gary Danko

Hana Re

Harbor House

Hashiri

Hayato

In Situ

jū-ni

Kali

Kato

Keiko à Nob Hill

Kenzo

Kinjo

Kin Khao

The Kitchen

La Toque

Le Comptoir

Lord Stanley

Luce

Madcap

Madera

Madrona Manor

Maude

Maum

Michael Mina

Mister Jiu’s

Mori Sushi

Mourad

Nico

Nozawa Bar

Octavia

Omakase

Orsa & Winston

Osteria Mozza

Plumed Horse

The Progress

Protégé

Q Sushi

Rasa

Rich Table

Rustic Canyon

Shibumi

Shin Sushi

Shunji

Sons & Daughters

Sorrel

SPQR

Spruce

State Bird

Provisions

Sushi Yoshizumi

Taco María

Trois Mec

The Village Pub

Wako

Wakuriya