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Do You Care About Michelin Stars?

YumSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:15:19 -0700

This past week, the Michelin Guide announced its 2009 starred restaurants for New York and San Francisco. The Michelin Guide, Europe's best-known restaurant guide, is released annually in the form of a series of books organized by city. The red books award restaurants zero, one, two, or three stars, and the stars are arguably the most well-regarded rankings in the global restaurant industry, with three being an extraordinary honor.

Every year since the Michelin Guide debuted stateside in 2006, there have been shakeups over restaurants that gain stars and others that are stripped of stars. For instance, Tom Colicchio's restaurant Craft was stripped of its sole star in a big upset last year; this time, the big surprise was David Chang's new restaurant Momofuku Ko receiving the honor of two stars. Do these designations affect your dining selections in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Las Vegas?

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Woman Chef Wins Illustrious Three Star Ranking

YumSugar — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:11:47 -0800

For the first time in more than 55 years, a woman has won the coveted Michelin Guide three star ranking.

Anne-Sophie Pic, the fourth French woman to achieve three stars since the ranking system began in 1926, runs The Maison Pic in Valence, France. Although three stars is a huge accomplishment (for any chef, male or female), one can say that Pic was destined to obtain the high ranking, after all it's in her blood. Both her father Jacques and grandfather Andre received the same high ranking (in 1973 and 1934 respectively). Yet, it was difficult living up to her fine family pedigree, it turns out being a woman chef was actually an even more difficult feat.

"The last few years, my battle and my desire to win this third star were motivated by my father, by the feelings I had for him, and for the fact that I am reviving the memory of him and my grandfather," she told French radio.

She said the main difficulty she had encountered was "the fact she was a woman rather than being the 'daughter of'" and said she wished that "there would be more and more women chefs".

I also wish there were more recognized women chefs. It's really interesting to me that cooking is thought of as a "woman's job" whereas being a chef is a "man's job."

The last females to win the distinguished award were Marguerite Bise in 1951 and Marie Bourgeois and Eugenie Brazier in 1933.

Source: BBC News
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Ming Tsai on Best Meals, Food Politics, and What's Next

YumSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:30:41 -0700

If it hasn't become apparent over the last few days, I'm an enthusiastic fan of Ming Tsai's. Last week, the Simply Ming chef stopped into San Francisco to host a party for the Macy's Come Together campaign. While demonstrating how to make potstickers, Ming, an exceptional storyteller, made fun of his parents who were present in the audience, told tales of mischief in France's Michelin-starred restaurants, and recalled his win against Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America ("rumor has it that I may soon face off against Iron Chef Morimoto," he told the crowd).

I got to kick back with Chef Ming, who, in between his thoughts on joining Top Chef Masters, must-have kitchen ingredients, and tips for keeping cool when hosting a party, had more surprising thoughts to share! Learn what they are when you read more

A Memorable Meal at Masa's

YumSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:50:33 -0700

Even as a food writer, it's not every day that I experience flawless fine dining. But several weeks ago, I had the pleasure of enjoying a dégustation, or tasting, at Masa's, a Michelin-starred restaurant known for its elevation of California-French cuisine. Not only were chef Gregory Short's creations exquisite, but the wine pairings were indelible and the service exceptional. To get a glimpse of the dinner, read on.
Photography by Michelle Walker

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Top Chef Masters: Episode 4

partysugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:01:39 -0700

After a week hiatus, Top Chef Masters was back last night with Douglas Rodriguez, John Besh, Anita Lo, and Mark Peel competing for their respective charities. Eggs, magic, Tom Colicchio, and Doogie Howser played supporting roles. Did you watch? Want to discuss the episode? Keep reading.

Gordon Ramsay to Open Second Restaurant in New York

YumSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:17:44 -0700

With a handful of hit shows, an international restaurant group, and 12 Michelin stars to uphold, Gordon Ramsay keeps piling more on his plate. The chef announced he will be opening a second venture in Manhattan, his US version of a laid-back, relaxed gastropub.

The casual concept, Ramsay defends, isn't due to the failing economy: "It's not because of the credit crunch or holding back. I just love that kind of alternative."

Gordon Ramsay at the London, his first stateside spot in midtown Manhattan, opened in 2006 to mixed reviews from critics, but the restaurant has proved resilient, earning two Michelin stars.

No word yet on when the café is set to open. Ramsay does have other things going on, after all: The new season of Kitchen Nightmares premieres tonight on Fox.

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Ramsay's Seeing Stars; Tom, Not So Much

YumSugar — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:27:11 -0700

I don't know if there's ever been a rivalry between "Hell's Kitchen" bad boy Gordon Ramsay and "Top Chef" judge Tom Colicchio, 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:

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?

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Obamas Bring Their Private Chef to the White House

YumSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:00:55 -0800

When it comes to the President's preferences, we know he likes johnnycakes and medium-well cheeseburgers. Now we can add one more thing to the list: private chef Sam Kass's food.

Representatives for the Obamas announced yesterday that the family would be bringing Sam Kass on board. The 28-year-old chef, who cooked for the Obamas in Chicago, will now serve as assistant chef to White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford.

"He knows what they like and he happens to have a particular interest in healthy food and local food," said Katie McCormick Lelyveld, a spokesperson for Michelle Obama. Before Kass founded his private chef service, Inevitable Table, the University of Chicago graduate trained at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Europe and also worked at top Chicago restaurant Avec.

According to former White House chef Walter Scheib, having Kass on board will make things easier for Comerford as well. "She will understand better and faster what they like," he said. "She doesn't have to spend months reading the tea leaves."

This news has no doubt thrilled the likes of eat local proponents such as Alice Waters, and I'm wondering if it's just a matter of time before an organic garden gets planted on the grounds. I have to admit, however, that I was surprised to find the Obamas had a private chef. I thought he was one to grab a bite at the drive-in like the rest of us. What do you think of the news?

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Is Gordon Ramsay Going Bankrupt?

partysugar — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:30:14 -0800

Although the fifth season of Hell's Kitchen debuts this Thursday on Fox, Gordon Ramsay's empire may be crumbling. According to the New York Post, the celebrity chef's company is "finding life pretty tough at the moment."

In the past couple of months the celebrity chef has faced many challenges. One of his restaurant's lost two Michelin stars and another establishment dramatically cut back its hours. The overall price of dining at a Gordon Ramsay eatery has dropped as well, to only $21 a head. Top that off with two years worth of unpaid back taxes, an alleged 7-year affair, and you end up with one burnt Ramsay. In an attempt to solve his problems, he's fired his public relations guru.

However, if Ramsay's luck runs out as a restaurant chef, he's always got his television career to fall back on.

Do you think Ramsay will survive the setbacks?

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Gordon Ramsay to Open His Own Culinary School

YumSugar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:11:31 -0800

If several hit television shows, a video game, Michelin star restaurants, and cookbooks weren't enough, Gordon Ramsay is planning to launch a UK chef academy. He's doing so in order to fight what he sees as poor standards of UK catering colleges. If the folks on Kitchen Nightmares (UK) are any indication of the standards, then maybe Gordon's onto something. At the recent opening of his new restaurant in Prague, Ramsay said:

I’m fed up not just with the [National Vocational Qualifications] standards, but at what’s coming out of our catering schools. I want to set up my own modern day apprentice scheme, where students will experience everything from a most amazing pub, to a one, two, or three Michelin starred establishment."

At a time when many folks are questioning whether or not culinary schools are a waste of time, do you think it makes sense for Gordon to open his own?

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