Grant Achatz reveals on Instagram that Alinea has been downgraded from 3 to 2 Michelin stars: the chef's post comes a few days before the official ceremony, anticipating news that has already shaken the gastronomic world in just a few hours. But there's more: two other well-known American three-star restaurants are also set to lose a macaron in the new edition.
The news
"We were saddened to learn that the Michelin Guide has downgraded us from three stars to two. For 20 years, Alinea has been dedicated to promoting creativity, technical rigor, and the pursuit of perfection in the culinary arts. That commitment remains unwavering—today as it was on day one—and will continue until the back door of 1723 closes for the last time." This is the content of the post visible on Grant Achatz's Instagram page, who, a few days before the official ceremony, shared with his followers the news of Alinea's downgrading in the new edition of the Red Guide. The presentation is in fact expected on Tuesday, November 18, in Philadelphia, but the famous American chef did not want to wait for the event, posting a message on social media that in a few hours totaled over 14,500 likes.
However, regret is followed by praise: “Congratulations to all the establishments featured in the Guide. Your dedication, talent, and hospitality elevate the industry.” Fine dining was one of only 14 American restaurants (and only two in Chicago) to hold three Michelin stars, received and maintained since 2010. This leaves only one three-star gourmet restaurant in Chicago: Smyth.
On the other hand, the legendary restaurant does not seem to be the only one to have taken a step back in the US, according to the inspectors: based on rumors later confirmed by Michelin itself, the Inn at Little Washington (run by chef Patrick O'Connell in Virginia) and Masa in New York (whose executive chef is Japanese master Masa Takayama) will also go from 3 to 2 macarons. While this is an epoch-making change in the American gastronomic scene, it is also true that similar predictions had already been made in the South Carolina Guide, with the ratings revealed a few hours before the ceremony in early November in Greenville.
Michelin's official comment was not long in coming, arriving last Wednesday to clarify the choices made: “The Guide remains committed to providing fair and qualitatively meaningful reviews to gourmands, thanks to its team of expert inspectors and following a global practice. It fully recognizes the impact of its decisions on the establishments it awards,” the statement reads. It remains to be seen what other changes will be made in the United States and—the following day, November 19—in Italy!
