The new 2019 Michelin Guide holds surprises, including new entries, new stars and a few disappointments
In what is by now an annual ritual, the new 2019 Michelin Guide has been presented, and as every year, there were one or two surprises in the most respected gastronomic rankings in Italy and beyond.
There are 367 star-holding restaurants in Italy, announced by Gwendal Poullennec, the new international director of Michelin Guides, with 29 new venues, 9 of them in the South.
In summary:
- 10 three-star restaurants, with one new entry, Mauro Uliassi’s restaurant;
- 39 two-star restaurants (-2);
- 318 single-star restaurants (+12), with 29 new entries.
There are, shall we say, two real “winners” in this contest: the first is Mauro Uliassi, who, with the restaurant bearing his name, achieved the coveted Three Stars, and the second is definitely Antonino Cannavacciuolo, who has managed to give a magnificent start to the chefs who work and have worked with him, launching them into the Olympus of gastronomy. So much so that his two bistros, in Novara and in Turin, have both won a Star.
But let’s turn to Uliassi; of him, the Guide says: “An unmissable stop for true gourmets, his restaurant occupies a privileged position, with a delightful sea breeze that brightens the wonderful summer evenings and the impeccable service led by Catia, Mauro’s sister; the pair are a model of professionalism in the panorama of Italian fine dining. Cuisine that respects the territory, rich in flavours and with an original pairing of sea and game, Uliassi certainly pays homage to the Marche region”.
Three well-deserved stars, then, for an innovative chef who prepares dishes of great impact, starting from the raw materials that the territory offers. Excellent ingredients, which his hands transform into “culinary experiences”.
Chef Cannavacciuolo has now obtained 4 Stars, two for his Villa Crespi in Orta (No), in the edifice overlooking the lake of the same name, a 5 star hotel that is part of the Relais&Chateau chain, and two for his bistros. Great success: the fruit, as I said, of perfect teamwork and meticulous attention to the ingredients and the preparation of the dishes.
Enrico Bartolini is another name to keep an eye on: in fact, at Locanda del Sant’Uffizio in Penango, he has attained his sixth award, becoming the Italian chef with the most stars at the moment.
A few numbers: Lombardy is the region with the most stars, with 2 new entries: 60 restaurants. Piedmont, with 5 new entries, takes back second place with 45 restaurants. Campania, with two new entries, is third with 43 restaurants. For the provinces, Naples comes in first with 24 restaurants, Rome has been relegated to second place with 23 starred restaurants, while Bolzano took back the third place. This is followed by Milan, with 18 restaurants, and Cuneo with 17.
The ten three-star winners
Uliassi is the tenth three-star restaurant in Italy. These are the other nine: Piazza Duomo in Alba (CN), Da Vittorio in Brusaporto (BG), St. Hubertus in San Cassiano (BZ), Le Calandre in Rubano (PD), Dal Pescatore in Canneto Sull’Oglio (MN), Osteria Francescana in Modena, Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence, La Pergola in Rome, and Reale in Castel di Sangro (AQ).
The disappointments
It wasn’t all celebrations, though, there were disappointments, too; the Michelin Guide takes no prisoners. Here are the setbacks: Cracco is left with a single Star, despite his having changed location to the prestigious Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Also in Milan, Armani has lost its Star: what, gastronomically speaking, is said to be Italy’s livelier capital received no new recognition this year, just reconfirmation and also demotions.
Another, perhaps greater, disappointment lies in the fact that only two women were awarded, as if to say that chefs cannot be female. But we are on the threshold of 2019 and something isn’t quite right with this picture. By now, it’s all over, and for fans of the Guide, there is nothing left to do but wait for November 2019.
No comment yet, add your voice below!