About the expansion of the Michelin Guide to new locales
Bummer they didn’t even mention Atlanta which is also in the first year. I was hoping to find out when they will announce the awards.
I didn’t realize the “city limits” type arrangements they are working under, especially the examples in Colorado and Florida which are completely absurd. I do hope Marietta is part of Atlanta, as Spring is one of a handful worthy of a star.
Honestly, outside France, I find Michelin to be highly suspect (or hardly authoritative, take your pick).
Yup. The further away from France, the less meaningful. And in France, Japanese chefs are held to a much higher standard than caucasian chefs.
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But outside of France they give em away like candy to Japanese chefs
I think they got it right. I don’t think there’s any 2 star places here and they only picked the best of the best for 1 star. I thought they might give out a few more like Aria, but kind of glad they didn’t (selfishly).
The one stars are basically all the priciest places in town, and only “special occasion” kinds of restaurants. Nothing surprising to me. I really wish they hadn’t limited it to ITP (inside the perimeter of I-285 for all you non-Atlanta folks), because Spring was the one I was really rooting for, and would have been the most affordable of the bunch by far.
The distinction between Bib Gourmand and “Recommended” is very hazy and strange, as it doesn’t (to me) appear to be based either on price or quality. Several on Recommended that I would have expected to get Bibs, and a few Bibs that were out of left field (Arepa Mia? Really?).
Aria and Lucian not getting any recognition at all is a shock. I think those are the biggest snubs. Marcel being the only steakhouse is interesting. I’m also surprised Staplehouse didn’t show up under Bib Gourmand, but maybe it didn’t qualify as a “restaurant.”
I don’t think it’s about “you almost got a star”. It’s completely different fare. Fred’s is the best example of what they are looking for. Great fast food.
I get that in theory, but then why are Banshee and Little Bear on there as Bibs while Ticonderoga Club and Snackboxe and Chai Pani are all “recommended,” all of which are at similar or lower price points, and the latter two of which are definitely more “quick, inexpensive, and very good quality.” My point is that there’s no clear rhyme or reason to the ones they chose.
Is Chai Pani there sortof underwhelming like it is in Asheville now?
Since 1997, our best value for money restaurants – offering a three course meal at a reasonable price – have been pointed out using a special award: the Bib Gourmand. The price limit for Bib Gourmand consideration varies from country to country, depending on the cost of living, but the inspectors are searching for the same high quality, wherever they happen to be in the world.
There’s no set formula for a “Bib” restaurant – they are all unique and can vary greatly from one place to the next.
But I had missed the “recommended” list, which includes Lyla Lila and Tiny Lou’s and some others. Not to have Aria listed at all is definitely a big and odd snub.
I agree that there are some on the recommended list that seem like they should have been Bib Gourmands, but as long as they’re listed by Michelin somewhere, I doubt places like Snackboxe will worry too much. I’m also surprised that Aria didn’t make the list.
The recommended list covers a lot of ground and after our dinners a few weeks ago I’m glad to see The Deer and the Dove and Kimball House make it. Ticonderoga and Lyla Lila deserved their mentions as well.
I hope they expand the geographic range outside the perimeter for 2024, as I think Spring is a good bet for a star.
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More head scratching… Bib Gourmand is in theory a higher designation for the restaurant, but with a cap on price. See Andrew’s paste above direct from Michelin.
So… great food, good price. That makes sense. But then you look at the list. Banshee (which I love and am thrilled got recognition) made it to the Bib Gourmand list, but Michelin lists them as a $$$ “special occasion” price point. So that means that the price point limit was somewhere at the bottom end of $$$. Yet Ticonderoga Club, Miller Union, and Delbar are all listed at $$ “a moderate spend” and for some reason didn’t qualify as Bib Gourmand. Same for Kamayan, Snackboxe, Home Grown, Poor Hendrix… all excellent choices, but they were beat out for Bib Gourmand by Arepa Mia, Fred’s, and Bomb Biscuit?? It makes zero logical sense.