star city:

The Second City. Since the 1890s, when Chicago was awarded the dramatic pleasure of hosting the World's Fair, struggling to prove it's place in the world, the city has long been the red headed step child of New York City. Fret no more. We are on the Michelin 2011 map! The Michelin Guide's ratings for the most scrumptious worldwide restaurants were leaked a day early and awarded stars to twenty-three very well-deserving Chicago restaurants. Three stars were awarded to L20, which was recently added to my Yelp bookmark list after watching a rerun of Anthony Bourdain's visit to Chicago, and Alinea, the creation of culinary artist Grant Achatz.

Two Stars were awarded to: Avenues at the Peninsula Hotel Chicago, Charlie Trotter's and RIA at the Elysian Hotel.

One Star to: Blackbird, Boka, Bonsoiree, Crofton on Wells, Everest, Graham Elliot, Longman & Eagle, Naha, NoMI, Schwa, Seasons, Sepia, Sixteen, Spiaggia, Takashi, Topolobampo, Tru and Vie.

I have a lot to learn about this city, but if learning requires checking off my Michelin Guide to do list, I think that I'm going to be juuust fine. Two down, twenty one to go. First up on my to do list consists of the $58 4 course dinner at Bonsoiree, a comfort food brunch at Longman & Eagle and Sunday noodle specials at Takashi.

Cheers to the creative genius of Grant Achatz and Laurent Gras!