Michelin Selects Best Restaurants and Hotels in San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country

Michelin announced today the contents of its first-ever restaurant and hotel Guide for the West Coast, the Michelin Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2007, which arrives in stores Wednesday, Oct. 4. Over the last seven months, suspense has been building over which restaurants and hotels would garner listings in the guide, published for more than a century throughout Europe. Introduced to North America last year in New York City, and published in 13 editions covering 20 European countries, the Michelin Guide's rating system is internationally recognized as the height of culinary success.

"San Francisco's cultural diversity distinguishes it from many other cities, and restaurateurs have shown great determination and ingenuity in developing high standards of gastronomy and service," said Jean-Luc Naret, director of the Michelin Guides. "The abundance of local, fresh ingredients combined with the innovative spirit that this area thrives on provides chefs the unique ability to produce consistently superior cuisine. The introduction of Michelin's international standards of quality confirms the high level of dining in San Francisco, the Bay Area and the Wine Country."

Overall, 356 restaurants and 60 hotels in every category of cuisine and comfort and at prices to suit all budgets were selected for inclusion in the guide, which is considered a distinction in itself. One restaurant, French Laundry, received a three-star rating for providing "an exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey." Four restaurants received a two-star rating providing "excellent cooking, worth a detour"; 23 restaurants received a one- star rating for being "a very good restaurant in its category," and 328 additional restaurants were selected in the guide as they provide a quality experience. Restaurants and hotels from around the Bay Area were considered for the Guide, including those in San Francisco, Sausalito, Oakland, San Jose and Berkeley, as well as the Wine Country, including Napa and Sonoma. (For a complete list of the star winners, please turn to page 7).

"The Bay Area attracts tourists from all over the world for its exceptional cuisine. The guide will be a useful tool for navigating the best restaurants and hotels this area has to offer," said Jim Micali, chairman and president of Michelin North America. "As we continue our growth in the United States, Michelin will remain committed to the time-proven standards and rating system for which the guides are famous."

To evaluate the culinary and service aspects of each restaurant and hotel, highly trained Michelin inspectors anonymously visited each establishment and provided objective evaluations. Stars are awarded by the Michelin inspectors to restaurants offering the finest cooking, regardless of the style of cuisine or level of comfort. The stars judge only the quality of the cuisine. Five criteria are used in determining a star rating: the quality of products used, the mastering of flavors and cooking, the "personality" of the cuisine, the value for money and the consistency.

A general listing in the guide indicates "a quality restaurant that stands out from others" in the same category of comfort.

The star ratings are as follows:

- One star indicates "a very good restaurant in its category," a place offering cuisine prepared to a consistently high standard.

- Two stars denote "excellent cuisine, worth a detour," skillfully and carefully crafted dishes of outstanding quality.

- Three stars reward "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey." One always eats extremely well here, often superbly. Distinctive dishes are precisely executed, using superlative ingredients.

The Michelin Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2007 features a reader-friendly format, created specifically for a North American audience. All starred restaurants (whether one, two or three) feature a two-page spread in the guide with images of the establishment, a comprehensive description, and a sample menu. Hotels that garner a pavilion rating receive a full-page entry in the guide with a photo and ample description. Introduced first in the Michelin Guide New York City 2006, this format will be a model for the 2007 Michelin Guides to Paris and London.

For more information about the Michelin Guide, please visit

http://www.michelinguide.com/.

The MICHELIN Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2007

MICHELIN RESTAURANT RATINGS

For additional information select x or Name of Restaurant

October 2, 2006