Culinary stars were shining bright on stage at the gala celebration for the tenth edition of the Michelin Guide to New York City restaurants. Of course, the Michelin Man was there too!
There is certainly no shortage of places to dine in New York City but only 73 restaurants can currently boast that they're Michelin-starred! First published in France in 1900 to help hungry motorists find the very best meals on the road, Michelin introduced the NYC guide 10 years ago and their team of anonymous inspectors annually place a spotlight on the Big Apple's culinary stand-outs. Whether you're a local or a visitor, the Michelin Guide is a great resource for navigating New York's culinary landscape.
Not just a showcase for world-famous three-star eateries like Jean-Georges, Le Bernardin, and Masa; the Michelin Guide New York City 2015 ($18.99) lists 874 restaurants and more than 60 types of cuisine from Argentinian to Vietnamese. Every New Yorker knows that a great meal does not have to cost a fortune and the 2015 guide includes Bib Gourmand selections throughout the five boroughs that represent the Michelin Inspectors' favorites for good value.
I attended the gala celebration for the 2015 Michelin Guide NYC and the extravaganza included tasting stations with beautiful bites from restaurants like Lincoln Ristorante, Telepan, NoMad, Jean-Georges, and the Spotted Pig.
It was an absolute pleasure to meet Chef Jonathan Benno of the elegant Lincoln Ristorante (1 Michelin Star) at Lincoln Center - I've dined there and the food & service are impeccable. At the gala Chef Benno served a hearty chic creation - Smoked Eel and Foie Gras Terrine with Apricot Mostarda and Brown Bread.
It's been years since I dined at Telepan (1 Michelin Star) but Chef Bill Telepan's dish of Heritage Pork 'BBQ-Style' with Pork Belly, Smoked Shoulder and Creamed Corn has definitely inspired me to visit soon!
At the gala, I ran into the incredibly talented Chef Manuel Berganza of the modern Spanish restaurant Andanada (1 Michelin Star). (This may be my first "selfie" with a Michelin starred chef!) I promised Chef Berganza that I would visit Andanada again soon for his innovative interpretation of cuisine from Spain. (Click here to read my 2012 interview with Chef Berganza).
Could one (or more) of this fab foursome of young chefs from Jean-Georges earn his own Michelin star one day?
To learn more about the 2015 New York Michelin selections, visit the Michelin website.