The Michelin Group

A Bodega Buffet Is Shut Down Because of the Smell

Lower East Side coffee shop d'Espresso closed on Stanton Street, Bowery Boogie reported. The Italian-style cafe opened in 2008 and expanded to midtown in 2010 (the midtown location will remain open). 100 Stanton Street Midtown Lunch discovered a "hidden gem"--an unnamed Indian buffet operating out ... More >>

What's a Modern Spanish Brasserie?

Dani Garcia brings a touch of avant garde to Gramercy

Saul Bolton's Red Gravy Hits Atlantic Avenue

A new meatball-slinging Italian joint

Berlin Film Festival Discoveries

Greatness emerges at the year's first major film festival

Berlin Discoveries: Greatness Emerges at the Year's First Major Film Festival

Our Best Posts of the Week!

We wrote a haiku comic about a $1 doughnut, because that's how we roll, and tasted a goat pepper soup so hot that Robert put it in the running to be our city's spiciest dish. Meanwhile, Eric got drunk in the Catskills, Lauren swirled some organic and biodynamic wines, and I found the kind of hot ch ... More >>

Food Network Launching New Health Inspection Show

The Food Network is launching a new health inspection show which debuts October 26. It's aptly called "Health Inspectors." Host Ben Vaughn, a former chef and a restaurant consultant, will visit one of the country's filthiest restaurants and try to clean it up. Some highlights from the upcoming epis ... More >>

Three Stars

Step Up to the Plate (Entre les Bras)

Bourdain at CNN, Michelin-Starred Women, and a Teen Chef

Anthony Bourdain talks about leaving the Travel Channel for CNN: "There are a lot of places where me and my team have been wanting to make television for a long time and haven't been able to. And CNN has the infrastructure and inclination to make those places doable." [AdWeek] Who are the best fema ... More >>

Boukiés: Greek Unorthodox

An East 2nd Street space stays in the Euro zone

Q&A with Chef Ho Chee Boon of Hakkasan New York: Flavors Around the World Chinese Fine Dining

We caught up with Chef Ho Chee Boon, the executive chef of Hakkasan New York, who talked about his 24 years of experience at several of the world's most renowned Asian restaurants. Chef Ho has been with the Hakkasan brand since its conception, and was the chef behind the original Michelin star rated ... More >>

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Daniel Humm and Will Guidara on Writing Eleven Madison Park: the Cookbook

Francesco TonelliDaniel Humm and Will Guidara: always changing, always the same​Of all the restaurant cookbooks published this year, it's hard to beat Eleven Madison Park: the Cookbook in terms of sheer beauty. Co-written by chef Daniel Humm and general manager Will Guidara, the book is reall ... More >>

OWS Kitchen Staff Launch a Protest of Their Own; More Diners Ordering Tap Water

​Wegmans recalls 5,000 pounds of Turkish pine nuts sold in its bulk, due to possible Salmonella contamination. [Wall Street Journal] Not surprisingly, consumers want to see health inspection grades displayed prominently in restaurants. [Main Street] Napa Valley and New York City are the only ... More >>

Portland's Andy Ricker Coming to NYC; Jonnatan Leiva 'Out' at 10 Downing

​Gualtiero Marchesi, the first chef in Italy to win three Michelin stars, teamed up with McDonald's to create two burgers and a dessert. [Daily Meal] Eddie Huang announced on his blog that Andy Ricker, of Pok Pok in Portland, is going to open a "wing shack" in the old BaoHaus space. [Zagat Bu ... More >>

Heartbreak Closes After Getting Michelin Star

Remember last week when the Michelin New York 2012 guide was released and everyone was like, "Um, what is Heartbreak?" Apparently it was a great restaurant that nobody tried because today Florence Fabricant reports that the restaurant has officially called it quits.

Le Bernardin to Start Serving Lunch in Lounge

Le Bernardin is back in a big way, earning three Michelin stars and a near-perfect Zagat rating post-renovation. The biggest news of the restaurant revamp was the opening of the more casual lounge, where jackets are "encouraged but not required." OK, so it's not exactly Brooklyn-casual, but still, f ... More >>

New York City's 17 Greatest Chefs

The re-Africanized fried chicken at Marcus Samuelsson's Red Rooster This highly idiosyncratic list is based entirely on my own dining predilections, and only includes chefs whose work I'm reasonably familiar with. Certain figures have been excluded from consideration -- Thomas Keller, for example ... More >>

This August, Eric Ripert Took His First Vacation in 20 Years

​As you might have heard, Le Bernardin just underwent a major renovation, which means, contrary to what the people at Michelin may have told you, that it has been closed. This means that Eric Ripert and Le Bernardin co-owner Maguy Le Coze got to take a vacation. According to Bon Appétit ... More >>

Marja Vongerichten Talks Kimchi Chronicles

RodaleMore than just kimchi​Until now, Jean-Georges was the Vongerichten with the culinary clout, but his wife Marja is getting into the fray with her new PBS television show and cookbook, the Kimchi Chronicles. The New York Daily News profiles her today, learning about how her desire for Kor ... More >>

Thomas Keller Will Bestow the French Laundry Upon London

The French LaundryIf you were Thomas Keller, you'd be laughing too.​Having conquered New York with Per Se and Bouchon, Thomas Keller is taking his seven Michelin stars even farther east, clear across the Atlantic.

French Restaurant Gives Back Michelin Star; Food Blogger Sent to Jail For Negative Review

​French eatery Le Lisita just couldn't take the pressure anymore and decided to voluntarily give back its Michelin star after the increased staff costs that came with the ranking hurt profits post-global financial meltdown. [The Telegraph] A food blogger in Taipei was sentenced to 30 days in ... More >>

Del Posto Cook and Travel Writer Claire Handleman On The Joys of Eating In Thailand (Part 2)

​ Yesterday we talked to Claire Handleman, who cooks at Del Posto and blogs about her constant travels at Passport to Eat, about how she fell in love with Thai cuisine and the best papaya salad she's ever eaten. Today, she talks about fine dining in Bangkok, Del Posto's Italian cuisine and whe ... More >>

Del Posto Cook and Travel Writer Claire Handleman On The Joys of Eating In Thailand (Part 1)

​ Everyone loves to travel; not everyone, however, lives to travel. During most of the year, Claire Handleman pays the rent working at Del Posto, the Bastianich-Batali Italian juggernaut that won four stars from the New York Times last year. Every winter, she packs up her bags and spends at le ... More >>

Laurent Gras Will Lend His Chefly Talents to Momofuku Ko

laurentgras.typepad.comLaurent Gras when he's not cooking.​Laurent Gras is a serial dater. Ever since moving to New York from Chicago a few months back, the Michelin-starred chef has enjoyed flings with Locanda Verde, the Chelsea Market, Corton, and BLT Fish. Eventually, he plans to commit to ... More >>

Gabrielle Hamilton of Prune Reveals Her Kitchen Personality: Interview Part 2

Melissa HamiltonGabrielle Hamilton: Master Chef, Mother Hen​Yesterday we spoke with Prune chef Gabrielle Hamilton about her big win at the James Beard Awards on Monday night, taking home the title of Best Chef: New York City. Today she reveals what traits a chef must have to run a successful ... More >>

Anne-Sophie Pic Wins Best Female Chef, but What Does this Mean for Other Women?

Pic-ValenceAnne-Sopie Pic is Winning!​The S. Pellegrino yearly ranking of the world's best restaurants is always cause for celebration, but this year marks a new turn in the rankings. That's because they've announced a new category of awards: the World's Best Female Chef. France's Anne-Sophi ... More >>

Ask the Critics: What's a Fun Restaurant for a Teenager?

iStockphotoFood to please both your teen and you​Marisa M. asks: I'm taking my young teenage cousin to dinner this week. Can you think of somewhere that's not too challenging that has like, yummy burgers or pizza and good people watching? Last time we went to Veselka. I want to take her to Mo ... More >>

Fake Blueberries Plague Our Food Products; Cook Gets Jail Time for Putting Body Hair in Cop's Sandwich

​An investigation has been launched into what caused a mysterious greenish-yellow goo to fall from the skies in Snyder, New York. Turns out, it might be the poo of seagulls who dined on McDonald's fries. [Daily Mail] Chengdu province is hoping to capitalize on the popularity of spicy Sichuan ... More >>

Robert Sietsema at Lima Limon; Lauren Shockey at L'Artiste

This week in the Voice, Robert Sietsema indulges in "Peruvian Viagra" at Lima Limon in Little Latin America; Lauren Shockey discovers classic bistro fare at L'Artiste in Astoria.​ Sam Sifton awards a mostly enthusiastic two stars to Millesime: "holy cats, is there a beautiful, even exciting b ... More >>

New Year's Eve: Eats

Old stand-bys and some new kids on the block

The Latest Michelin City is Chicago; Michael Jordan's Steakhouse is Bankrupt

​A taste-test of 15 oils -- four olive and 11 seed -- reveals that when heated most oils lose the nuances of their flavors. [NY Times] The Wall Street Journal discovers that haute-cuisine chefs are making (gasp!) burgers. [Wall Street Journal] Chicago is the latest Michelin city, with two o ... More >>

Adour's Didier Elena Talks Katz's and Champagne (Though Not Together)

Bubbly type​ Before coming to New York in June, Didier Elena spent five years in the calm, bubbly-producing region of northern France, where he worked as executive chef at Hotel Le Château des Crayères, which boasts two Michelin stars. Preceding his Chateau stint, he was under Alain Ducasse' ... More >>

Bill Clinton: Restaurant Ambassador; Michelin Suspiciously Favors Japan

​Forget the Michelin guide. For many restaurants around the world, the most impressive claim they can make is that Bill Clinton once ate there. [NY Times] A man in Michigan is suing Heinz for stealing his idea for dippable ketchup packets. Heinz, of course, says the suit has not merit. [Diner ... More >>

Jean-Luc Naret, Director of the Michelin Guide, Is Stepping Down

​Now that he's successfully shepherded the 2011 Michelin Guide into its much-trumpeted existence, Jean-Luc Naret has announced that he'll be moving on.

Oyster Season Returns; Keeping Kosher in Religiously Diverse Brooklyn

​October brings the return of oyster season. The different varieties get their taste from the water where they're grown, as opposed to the oyster itself. [Wall Street Journal] The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival kicked off yesterday and runs through October 10, primarily in th ... More >>

2011 Editions of Michelin and Zagat Are Out, Ready to Aid the Numerically Fixated

​It's quite a watershed week for numbers-obsessed diners: Zagat released its 2011 New York City survey today, and tomorrow, the Michelin Guide 2011 will be inflicted upon the public.

Michelin Anoints 2011 'Bib Gourmand' Restaurants

​We weren't particularly thrilled with the 2010 Michelin Guide, so we can't say we've been eagerly anticipating next Wednesday's publication of the 2011 edition. But Michelin is betting that plenty of other people are, and to get them frothing at the mouth has just released its 2011 'Bib Gourm ... More >>

The Cream Puff of Food Docs, Kings of Pastry

Veritas Reportedly Fires Kitchen Staff, Closes for Renovations

Grégory Pugin, erstwhile executive chef at Veritas.​At Veritas, "closed for renovations" is apparently shorthand for "firing your entire kitchen staff." That's the message several tipsters relayed over the weekend to Eater, which reports that the staff and Executive Chef Grégory ... More >>

Where Am I Eating? Rhong-Tiam Express

Rhong Tiam Express's Crispy Basil and Pork Roll​Thank you to everyone who played yesterday's Where Am I Eating contest. Some of you were understandably thrown off by the thing's resemblance to a kati roll, especially because it's rolled up in a paratha. Felee was the first to correctly guess ... More >>

Didier Elena Confirmed at Alain Ducasse; Top Chef's Nikki Cascone Tries Again

​Didier Elena has finally been confirmed "in" at Alain Ducasse at the Essex House following a six-year absence from the city, where he hopes to win back the Michelin star lost by his predecessor. [NY Daily News] Following the closure of her 24 Prince, Top Chef alum Nikki Cascone has been appr ... More >>

"Resto-Blogger" Bruce Buschel Hires Joe Isidori to Helm His Nascent Hamptons Restaurant

Joe Isidori​Bruce Buschel, the blogging would-be Hamptons restaurateur, is back, and now he's got a real, live chef along for the ride. On the latest installment of his Start-Up Chronicle, Buschel breaks the news that he's hired Joe Isidori, the former chef at Harbour.

Chef Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern on Health Care, Salt, and the One Food He Won't Eat

Ellen Silverman Photography​Yesterday, we talked to Michael Anthony, executive chef at Gramercy Tavern, about the James Beards, his most embarrassing kitchen moment, and the advent of ramps. Today, in the second half of the interview, find out how Anthony feels about health care, the mayor's ... More >>

Rose Gray, of London's River Cafe, Has Died

Andrew Crowley/TelegraphThe River Cafe's Rose Gray​ Rose Gray, the co-founder of London's pioneering River Cafe and co-author of the equally influential River Cafe Cookbook, died of cancer yesterday at the age of 71, the Guardian reports. The River Cafe, which Gray opened with Ruth Rogers in 1 ... More >>

Recette's Jesse Schenker Talks About Going from Private to Public Dining, the Genius of Tomato-Basil Creme Brulee, and the Passion of Gordon Ramsay

Jesse Schenker has a new restaurant and some very impressive tattoos.​Yesterday, Jesse Schenker opened the doors to Recette, a contemporary American restaurant located in the old Jarnac space on West 12th Street. The restaurant is the public manifestation of Recette Private Dining, a private d ... More >>

Has Kurve Changed Its Name?

​ In October, it was noted that Kurve, Andy Yang's infamously nonsensical neon Thai restaurant on Second Avenue, had altered its service to include a daily, $7.95 all-you-can-eat buffet. But now, it looks like it's altered its name.

Under Review: Sietsema at New Flushing Quingdao M & T Restaurant

Calvin Godfrey​This week in the Voice, Our Man Sietsema marvels at the German and Korean influences at M & T Restaurant, a new Quingdao in Flushing. Sam Sifton knocks a star off the reinvented Oceana, deeming the new version to be "a high-functioning luxury mill... a very good restaurant. But ... More >>

Minetta Tavern Gains Michelin Star, Loses Joe Gould

​Like many shut-ins, we had not noticed that the Minetta Tavern had been transformed into a hip boite until Jeremiah of Jeremiah's Vanishing New York, who still gets around a little, informed us of it. The new Minetta serves a "cote de boeuf... a sublime hunk of glorious meat that you dream ab ... More >>