The Whet Palette Productions Michelin Stars

Tears, Triumphs & a New Northeast: Inside the MICHELIN Guide’s 2025 Reset

In the grand hall of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia this week, the MICHELIN Guide signaled a shift. With Philadelphia and Boston officially joining the “Northeast Cities” category, and a fresh star system already stirring commentary, this year’s ceremony felt like a pivot point in American dining. A night that surprised with emotion, warmth, and genuine connection.

by Brenda Popritkin

A Necessary Reset: MICHELIN Guide Drops Alinea, Masa, and Inn at Little Washington to Two Stars

The MICHELIN Guide has officially announced a major update ahead of its 2025 Northeast Cities Ceremony: Alinea (Chicago), Masa (New York City), and The Inn at Little Washington (Virginia) will each move from Three MICHELIN Stars to Two in the upcoming selection.

As someone who has covered the MICHELIN Guide for years, and has personally experienced over 350 MICHELIN stars across hundreds of dining rooms, I support this recalibration wholeheartedly.

It feels necessary, and refreshing.

S3 E45 MICHELIN Guide Florida Ceremony: Behind the Scenes

Welcome to the behind-the-scenes episode of the MICHELIN Guide Florida Ceremony: Miami, Orlando & Tampa.

If this is your first time tuning in, here’s the scoop. I’ve been writing about the MICHELIN Guide’s Florida potential and eventual guide since 2014—initially on the blog and now also on the podcast. In this episode, I’ll be your guide through the latest ceremony. I’ll pull back the curtain, revealing how things unfolded, and offer you a sneak peek of the actual event (since I always receive questions about it). I’ll also share my personal take on the results and begin a first look ahead as to what 2025 could hold.

by Brenda Popritkin

Top Ten Michelin-Starred Dinners of 2022

If you have been following The Whet Palette for a while, you know I have always kept close tabs on the U.S. Michelin Guide rankings, especially Miami’s path to its own guide for the last ten years. So how do all the restaurants compare throughout the country and abroad? Well, that’s one of the top […]

Gourmand Getaway: New York City

For committed food enthusiasts, planning a trip means meticulously researching restaurants, and coming up with the perfect schedule. I’ve been blessed with a group of friends who are on board with the art and challenge that is marathon dining. We discuss potential restaurants for months, compare notes, and sometimes even bicker about the top “candidates.” All in good fun, of course, it’s part of the process. Most in-demand New York restaurants open reservations only a month in advance. Once those are set, and only then is it time to figure out what to do in between reservations (besides working out, napping, and recuperating in time for the next epic meal).

1826 Restaurant and Lounge

Growing up in South Florida has allowed me to experience the rebirth of our beloved South Beach, a.k.a. SOBE, first hand. Surprisingly, not everyone knows that for a while there SOBE resembled a scene out of Miami Vice. Ocean Drive? Think quiet, retirement homes, and oceanfront rocking chairs. Washington and Collins Avenue? Good luck walking those shady, dark streets […]