Photograph by Myrydd Wells
By now you’ve certainly heard the news: five Atlanta restaurants boast one Michelin Star, with nearly 40 others receiving other distinctions from the prestigious international dining guide. Atlas, Bacchanalia, Hayakawa, Lazy Betty, and Mujo won big, while other longtime favorites like Aria, Kyma, Rumi’s Kitchen, and Umi were skipped over altogether. Chefs like Pat Pascarella—who received a recommendation for the White Bull—expressed surprise that Lyla Lila didn’t get a Bib Gourmand. (It was deemed “Recommended” instead.) Others have lamented that Georgia Boy, the Alden, and Miller Union deserved a higher honor, and that Gigi’s Italian Kitchen and Lucian Books and Wine were passed over.
“I really thought Joey Ward from Georgia Boy and Southern Belle was going to receive a star! I really respect what Georgia Boy does,” says Aaron Phillips, executive chef and partner at Lazy Betty. “That being said, I think Michelin did an amazing job reviewing our city and am so proud to be a part of the process.” He added that winning a Michelin Star “is a feeling that is hard to put into words.”
“When I was speaking with my wife last night, I told her, This is what it must feel like to get drafted into the NFL,” Phillips says.
Fred Castellucci III, president and CEO of Castellucci Hospitality Group, which includes Mujo, was relieved. “As a restaurant of Mujo’s caliber and price point, it’s obviously part of the goal of the restaurant,” he says. “To achieve it feels amazing, there’s definitely some relief, and I’m super excited for our team and the effect that it has on everybody in the organization.”
Read on for six observations from Tuesday night’s ceremony at downtown’s Rialto Center for the Performing Arts.
The Michelin Man is not the giant you might imagine. Illustrations of the tire company mascot give off…
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