Phil Vettel needs to get on the ball -- his article this morning predicting the Michelin stars included 1 for Avec, and he speculated that Carlos' in HP could get one too -- you think the article could have waited to go to press until after the Bibs were announced, and that he'd at least mention Carlos' closing.

JoelF wrote:Phil Vettel needs to get on the ball -- his article this morning predicting the Michelin stars included 1 for Avec, and he speculated that Carlos' in HP could get one too -- you think the article could have waited to go to press until after the Bibs were announced, and that he'd at least mention Carlos' closing.

He also made a comment about how the Michelin inspectors supposedly went further afield this year, but I look at the Bibs list and don't see much of a geographic change from 2011...well, except for Michelin not understanding where the city limits are.

http://www.michelintravel.com/what-is-b ... staurants/

Han 202 and Nana (Bridgeport), Smak Tak (Jefferson Park), Taste of Peru (Rogers Park), La Petite Folie (Hyde Park), Sol de Mexico ... all listed as suburbs whilst they are all clearly in Chicago.

So I wonder why Phil would have said that, based on four whole restaurants from the Bib perspective at least?

Kabul House is definitely Skokie.

nr706 wrote:Kabul House is definitely Skokie.

OK there's another one in the city, apologies for that. Will edit.

edb60035 wrote:

nr706 wrote:Kabul House is definitely Skokie.

OK there's another one in the city, apologies for that. Will edit.

Hi Ed,

You don't have to feel the need to edit. People will understand.

Regards,

edb60035 wrote:I wonder why Phil would have said that, based on four whole restaurants from the Bib perspective at least?

Well, an increase in the number from outside the city is already true of the Bib Gourmand winners. Last year's list consisted of 46 Bib Gourmand winners, of which all 46 were in the city. This year, 17 new BG winners were added, of which 4 are not in the city (Kabul House, Sen Sushi, Xni-Pec, and Yolo). That's an increase (although even just one would have been an increase). Last year, 23 restaurants received stars, of which one (Vie) was not in the city. On Tuesday we'll find out whether that number will increase as well. (Vettel speculated that additional star winners from outside the city might include Courtright's, Le Titi de Paris, Carlos, and Tallgrass.)

Why would Carlos be included if it's closing in December? I was confused as to why Vettel included that restaurant in his predictions.

aschie30 wrote:Why would Carlos be included if it's closing in December? I was confused as to why Vettel included that restaurant in his predictions.

Because Michelin's stars are finalized in early September (ref), and don't reflect any changes or closures between then and their announcement in mid-November. Last year there were a few similar inclusions, such as star/BG awards announced weeks after chef changes and/or reconcepting of L2O, Kith & Kin, and Mado.

I don't know why Vettel thinks that Gibson's might be starred among the steakhouses...I agree with him that Chicago Cut is another possibility if Michelin stars any steakhouses, but David Burke's Primehouse is far more likely to win favor from Michelin than Gibson's.

ld111134 wrote:I don't know why Vettel thinks that Gibson's might be starred among the steakhouses...I agree with him that Chicago Cut is another possibility if Michelin stars any steakhouses, but David Burke's Primehouse is far more likely to win favor from Michelin than Gibson's.

Definitely agree with you about David Burke's. I think they're the best steakhouse in the city, definitely better than Gibson's.

Hello everyone --
Google map of Bib Gourmands linked here:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=201 ... 22f4&msa=0
I may add the starred restaurants or perhaps just create a separate map afterwards.
Cheers!

tripleA wrote:Hello everyone --
Google map of Bib Gourmands linked here:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=201 ... 22f4&msa=0
I may add the starred restaurants or perhaps just create a separate map afterwards.
Cheers!

Thanks. It's very kind of you to share that.

=R=

I'm a longtime reader of the boards and have a learned a ton from you all, so I'm happy to share/return the favor.

Longman and Eagle posted on Facebook earlier today that they're retaining their star:

we just got the call and we will be holding down our Michelin star for 2012! big congrats and thanks to Chef Jared Wentworth and whole L&E crew for all the hard work.

Not a big surprise, but congrats to everyone there!

And thanks for map tripleA - very nice!

Attrill wrote:Not a big surprise

Yes it is, to some of us anyway. If I had to guess which restaurant without any chef/concept changes would lose a star, they would have been my guess, not Crofton.

nsxtasy wrote:

Attrill wrote:Not a big surprise

Yes it is, to some of us anyway. If I had to guess which restaurant without any chef/concept changes would lose a star, they would have been my guess, not Crofton.

Since they didn't get a Bib Gourmand I pretty much assumed they were keeping their star.

I certainly understand why Longman & Eagle getting a star seems odd to some people, and I'm surprised by a lot of the reviews where people have experienced some misfires and off nights. That doesn't match my score plus experiences eating there, which have had one misfire in prep and one in service. Both were caught and compensated for to an insane degree, so I'm forgiving of them.

The only problem I have with Longman & Eagle getting a star has nothing to do with them. It is the fact that places like Avec, The Bristol and The Publican haven't gotten one, and are just as deserving. It certainly blurs the line on stars vs. Bib Gourmand.

"The only problem I have with Longman & Eagle getting a star has nothing to do with them. It is the fact that places like Avec, The Bristol and The Publican haven't gotten one, and are just as deserving. It certainly blurs the line on stars vs. Bib Gourmand."

This. I said the same on the starred restaurant thread. If they are going to reward that type of restaurant as star-worthy, there are at least a half dozen more as good (or better) that I'd throw on the list, including Maude's, GT, Publican, Bristol, etc..

tripleA wrote:"The only problem I have with Longman & Eagle getting a star has nothing to do with them. It is the fact that places like Avec, The Bristol and The Publican haven't gotten one, and are just as deserving. It certainly blurs the line on stars vs. Bib Gourmand."

This. I said the same on the starred restaurant thread. If they are going to reward that type of restaurant as star-worthy, there are at least a half dozen more as good (or better) that I'd throw on the list, including Maude's, GT, Publican, Bristol, etc..

Michelin needs consistency.

Xni-Pac de Yucatan gets a bib gourmand (yikes) but Autre Monde and Ruxbin don't? Highway robbery.

Also, if L&E is one star, so is Nightwood.

ChitownJackson wrote:Michelin needs consistency.

After reviewing the list of Gourmands, starred restaurants, and the explanation concerning Next, I'm of the opinion that Michelin should go back to just working on tires. They do make good tires, right? Oh, the cute puffy marshmallow guy can hang around too - he always seemed friendly.

ChitownJackson wrote:

tripleA wrote:"The only problem I have with Longman & Eagle getting a star has nothing to do with them. It is the fact that places like Avec, The Bristol and The Publican haven't gotten one, and are just as deserving. It certainly blurs the line on stars vs. Bib Gourmand."

This. I said the same on the starred restaurant thread. If they are going to reward that type of restaurant as star-worthy, there are at least a half dozen more as good (or better) that I'd throw on the list, including Maude's, GT, Publican, Bristol, etc..

Michelin needs consistency.

Xni-Pac de Yucatan gets a bib gourmand (yikes) but Autre Monde and Ruxbin don't? Highway robbery.

Also, if L&E is one star, so is Nightwood.

Agree on Nightwood for sure.

Sure, there are exceptions to every rule, but on the whole, I don't think Michelin likes for star purposes for Chicago*:

1) Restaurants that are difficult to get into either because they do not take reservations or because they are too popular. (I realize that Alinea is listed, but it is in the category of places that are worth making a special trip for.)

2) Restaurants primarily comprised of communal tables.

3) Restaurants that are too noisy.

4) Restaurants without tablecloths.

5) Restaurants without pedigreed chefs (although, yeah, sure, it's a team effort, but a pedigreed chef is necessary for 2-3 stars).

6) Restaurants that serve food that is plated for sharing.

7) Restaurants that stray too far from "downtown" locations.

*The reason why I designate Chicago is that having been lately to some of the NY Michelin starred restaurants, I scratch my head. Tori Shin as a Michelin one-star? Methinks that was listed for Japanese business people and guide buyers. Yet ambitious Moto didn't earn a one-star until this year? Even EMP is a questionable three-star. Michelin claims to like consistency, but the subtext is that it consistently enjoys restaurants that fit into a certain box.

When did you last dine at EMP?

I'm a bit surprised that Blue 13 was completely snubbed. Easily one of my top 3 most memorable meals in 2010 so far along with Paris 1906 and Nightwood.