NEW ORLEANS – We learned earlier this year that the Michelin Guide was headed to the American South, with new selections in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and a pre-existing Atlanta guide.
On Monday, Nov. 3, the official list of restaurants awarded Michelin Stars and spots on the Bib Gourmand distinction list was announced ahead of the ceremony that took place in Greenville, South Carolina.
After years of confusion as to why the South had never received its flowers, we have our shining stars with three restaurants receiving official Michelin star distinctions and 18 restaurants receiving Bib Gourmand, which recognizes restaurants with “great food at a great value.”
“We are excited to embark on this new journey for The MICHELIN Guide as this will be the first time since the Guide’s North American debut in 2005 that we are launching a regional selection,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the MICHELIN Guides, in the initial announcement. “The cuisine of the American South is a unique product of diverse influences creating an iconic array of specialties prepared by proud and impressive culinary talent.”
TWO STARS
In the first venture down South, the Michelin Guide awarded just one two-star distinction. This year, New Orleans’ own Emeril’s joins only 34 other two star restaurants in the country – and 500 around the world.
“The young E.J. Lagasse, son of the indomitable namesake, now oversees a remarkable dining room that has celebrated Creole cuisine for more than three decades,” said the guide in the announcement. “His determination is palpable as he charts a new course, bringing contemporary refinement and vibrant originality to the fore. BBQ shrimp tarts, deep-flavored gumbo and superb, golden-brown cornbread paired with French butter feel familiar and new at once.”
In Renaissance Publishing’s annual “Beyond the Kitchen” podcast, New Orleans Magazine editor Ashley McLellan asked the younger Lagasse about the potential of a Michelin star coming to the Crescent City. While many changes, and return to basics, have happened since E.J. has taken the helm, he only spoke about what a Michelin star could do for the city.
“It’s great; it’s going to bring visitors to town and give New Orleanians something to be excited about and prideful of with the restaurants that are in town, all the amazing restaurants we have and to really put some of those restaurants on a world,” he shared. “You can see what the restaurants being recommended by Michelin does for tourism, really has an uptick in it, so I think that’s something we’re all going to be really excited about with more people eating at our restaurants. … it’s great for the region, it’s great for the Gulf South.”
In addition to the two-stars, E.J. Lagasse was awarded the Michelin Young Chef/Culinary Professional Award at the Nov. 3 ceremony.
ONE STAR
In addition to the two-star Emeril’s, two New Orleans restaurants received one star ratings from the Michelin Guide, adding to the just over 220 American restaurants with the distinction.
First up is Bywater favorite Saint-Germain. Chefs Blake Aguillard and Trey Smith opened the 10-course tasting menu restaurant in 2018.
“The old adage about not judging a book by its cover couldn’t be more apt for this little restaurant in Bywater,” said the announcement. “An unassuming front advertising “natural wines and garden patio” leads to a quaint bar where Chefs Blake Aguillard and Trey Smith start the meal with a few pleasant bites.”
Heading across town, Chef Sue Zemanick’s Mid-City restaurant Zasu has also garnered a star.
Zasu and Zemanick have received much praise since opening in 2019.
“Chef Sue Zemanick is no stranger to the New Orleans dining scene, having spent time in the kitchens of some of the city’s famed restaurants before opening Zasu in 2019,” said the guide. “Set in an easy-to-miss cottage in Mid-City, it’s an elegant oasis with a sleek dining room marked by wood floors, dark green walls and gold tones.”
BIB GOURMAND
In addition to stars, the Michelin Guide offers another award – the Bib Gourmand. Michelin shares “Bib Gourmand is awarded to restaurants that deliver great food with terrific value.” For New Orleans, 11 restaurants were awarded the Bib Gourmand distinction.
Acamaya
Cochon
Cochon Butcher
Domilise’s Po-Boy & Bar
Dooky Chase
Hungry Eyes
Lufu Nola
Mister Mao
Parkway Bakery & Tavern
Saba
Turkey and the Wolf
While every New Orleanian will have a say about which restaurants did or did not make the lists, both new and legacy restaurants received star and Bib recognition and that’s something to be proud of.
In this year’s “Beyond the Kitchen” podcast series, Edgar “Dook” Chase IV shared something about his family’s restaurant and legacy that stuck with us.
He said, “My grandparents came into that restaurant during the Civil Rights movement and [Leah Chase] wanted a place where her community and everybody in the community could dine together, bring people together. She often talked about changing the course of America over a bowl of gumbo.”
Does getting a star or being recognized internationally necessarily change the world? Maybe not. But we hope one more acknowledgment of New Orleans’ influence on the culinary industry proves that maybe some things can be changed over a bowl of gumbo.
