Michelin has awarded its stars for 2011 and there are some major announcements for North Bay restaurants…
THREE STARS (exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey)
The French Laundry
The Restaurant at Meadowood (N)
Golden boy Christopher Kostow gets his much-sought after third star, bumping him up into the same category as the French Laundry. I soooo called that two years ago.
TWO STARS (excellent cuisine, worth a detour)
Coi
Cyrus
Manresa
Healdsburg’s Cyrus remains a serious contender in the haute cuisine category, but misses hitting that three-star mark.
ONE STAR (a very good restaurant in its category)
Acquerello
Alexander’s Steakhouse (N)
Ame
Applewood (N)
Auberge de Soleil
Aziza
Baumé (N)
Bouchon
Boulevard
Campton Place (N)
Chez TJ
Commis
The Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton
Dio Deka (N)
étoile
Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant
Fleur de Lys
Frances (N)
Gary Danko
La Folie
La Toque
Luce
Madera (N)
Madrona Manor
Masa’s
Mirepoix (N)
Murray Circle
One Market
Plumed Horse
Quince
Redd
Saison (N)
Santé
Solbar
Spruce (N)
Terra
Ubuntu
The Village Pub
Wakuriya (N)
Of the newcomers, Applewood Inn and Mirepoix are long overdue. It’s nice to see these restaurants getting their due. Mirepoix changed up its menu to reflect a more upscale dining experience after opening the it’s cafe-eats sibling, Bistro M last year. Michelin stars have long been in Matthew Bousquet’s eyes, so it’s nice to see him get credit. Applewood’s Bruce Frieseke has long been under the radar, but also is well-deserving of the applause.
And losing its only star? Chez Panisse. Ouch.
