I don't know if there's ever been a rivalry between "Hell's Kitchen" bad boy Gordon Ramsay [1] and "Top Chef" judge Tom Colicchio [2], but there might be reason for one now.
The just published 2008 New York Michelin Guide struck a star off of Colicchio's Craft restaurant — bringing it to one star — and gave Ramsay's The London — his first U.S. venture — two stars.
Michelin Guide director Jean-Luc Naret recently told Reuters about the ratings. Here's more: [3]
- On The London: "Gordon Ramsay deserved two stars, not because of his name and TV fame, but because of the consistency of the multiple visits by inspectors throughout the year."
- On Craft: "It doesn't mean that the chef has less talent. It's just that the consistency was not there."
- About the star ratings:One star means "a very good restaurant in its category." Two stars signify "excellent cuisine, worth a detour" and three stars tout "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey."
So there you have it. Ramsay's The London, despite lukewarm reviews from critics, is worthy of a detour, while Colicchio's Craft is just "very good."
What do you guys think? Do you even care about star ratings? Which restaurant would you go to?
Source [4] and Source [5]