The highly esteemed MICHELIN Guide California 2023 has unveiled its hot list of the freshest culinary stars and sustainability champions. This year, it welcomes six incredible new additions to the galaxy of one-MICHELIN-Star restaurants. In addition, four new eco-conscious restaurants have joined the prestigious Green Star ranks.
Let’s dive into the flavors of these new culinary stars and discover the inspector’s thoughts on each:
2023 MICHELIN One Star Inductees
Aphotic (San Francisco; Seafood): This seafood haven, named after the ocean’s shadowy depths, offers a rich pescatarian tasting menu curated by Chef Peter Hemsley. The restaurant champions sustainable practices, sourcing exceptional seafood from local purveyors and making skillful use of techniques like dry aging and fermentation.
Auro (Calistoga; Contemporary cuisine): Located in the Four Seasons resort, Auro serves up the essence of classic Wine Country fine dining. Chef Rogelio Garcia’s Californian perspective shines through his use of exceptional locally-sourced ingredients, including those from the resort’s own gardens.
Chez Noir (Carmel-By-The-Sea; Contemporary cuisine): In a Craftsman-style residence, Chef Jonny and his wife, Monique Black, offer a warmly inviting dining experience. Chez Noir’s menu draws on French bistro fare and California’s coastal abundance, with seafood dishes making quite the splash.
Heritage (Long Beach; Californian cuisine): Nestled in the historic Rose Park neighborhood, Heritage is run by the sibling duo, Philip and Lauren Pretty. Offering a single multicourse tasting, they highlight top-notch ingredients, including produce sourced from their nearby farm.
Nari (San Francisco; Thai cuisine): Inside Hotel Kabuki, Nari serves up Chef Pim Techamuanvivit’s personality-infused contemporary Thai dishes. Expect family-style servings, intensely aromatic curries, and superb Californian ingredients.
Valle (Oceanside; Mexican cuisine): Overlooking Oceanside Pier, Valle is where Chef Roberto Alcocer brings his modern take on Mexican cuisine. Dishes are a harmonious blend of tradition and creativity, creating an unforgettable eight-course tasting.
2023 MICHELIN Green Star Restaurants
Aphotic (San Francisco; Seafood): Their sustainable ethos involves sourcing seafood directly from fishermen and trusted partners around the Bay Area.
Heritage (Long Beach; Californian cuisine): Heritage’s commitment to sustainability includes growing their own produce and sourcing local, sustainable meat and seafood.
Pomet (Oakland; Californian cuisine): Pomet boasts a farm-to-table approach. It does so by sourcing from a family-owned farm and using wood from retired trees in their oven.
Providence (Los Angeles; Seafood): With a strong dedication to sustainability, Providence only uses wild-caught, sustainable products. Additionally, it operates a zero-waste chocolate program.
Bib Gourmand
This year, the MICHELIN Guide inspectors added 10 more names to the Bib Gourmand list. The list recognizes eateries that offer great food at excellent value. This includes Bansang, Bombera, Carnes Asadas Pancho Lopez, Cobi’s, Eat Joy Food, Mabel’s Gone Fishing, Maligne, Petiscos, Snail Bar, and Villa’s Tacos.
Celebrate the culinary prowess and sustainable strides of the California restaurant scene. Let’s raise a toast to these Michelin 2023 stars and their remarkable achievements.