The Michelin Guide has postponed naming its 2020 restaurant selections for California. No stars and no Bib Gourmands will be announced for this year due to the ongoing pandemic and — most notably for California — the wildfires. With most of the state’s restaurants still limited to outdoor dining and takeout due to COVID-19 restrictions, Michelin representatives said the decision was made after talking to chefs and considering their feedback.
Michelin stars are among the most influential awards a restaurant can receive. Healdsburg’s Single Thread Restaurant and Farm is one of just a handful of California restaurants to win the coveted three-star award, the highest award given. Madrona Manor, also in Healdsburg, has one star. Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant in Forestville also got one Michelin star. The Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena, another three-star winner, was destroyed in the recent Glass fire.
Insiders are saying that “postponing” doesn’t necessarily mean the awards will be shelved altogether for this year. Although the usual October announcement won’t be made, the guide may be released sometime in early 2021 as many reviews already had been completed for this year before restaurants were forced to shutter and then limit services.
Guide organizers will host a virtual Family Meal event to support California restaurants at 4 p.m. Oct. 27. Both diners and chefs are invited to attend. (Details at guide.michelinman.com).