Michelin Guide Announces 2025 Debut in Boston and Philadelphia
Anonymous inspectors have already touched down in the two cities, and selections in the guide are expected at the Northeast Cities Guide Ceremony later this year. The exact date for the ceremony has not yet been determined, but it's expected to take place in the fall. “The local passion, talent, and camaraderie in both Boston and Philadelphia are evident in their restaurant communities and the anonymous Inspectors look forward to spotlighting their unique experiences in both cities,” said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of The Michelin Guide. Philadelphia and Boston will be joining the already recognized cities for the northeast, Chicago, New York City, and Washington D.C.
Michelin Expands Guide To Southern US
Image Source: Ryan Fleisher / Eater
The Michelin Guide recently announced the organization's plans to expand their U.S. coverage with the addition of the American South. Michelin has been widening their U.S. reach significantly in the past few years, with inaugural guides being released in Colorado, Texas, and Atlanta between 2023 and 2024 alone. Financial partnerships with travel companies funded the expansion into the South. Now chefs in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, the Carolinas, and Tennessee will be able to compete for recognition from the guide and showcase the region's talent.
Restaurant Labor Market Struggles As Industry Rebounds
Image Source: Kriston Jae Bethel/Bloomberg
Restaurant sales have returned to pre-pandemic levels this year, yet operators are struggling to stay staffed. Pandemic restaurant closures forced employees into other industries, and many never returned. “COVID not only resulted in a large exodus, but also a huge shrinkage in the number of people coming into the industry,” says Philadelphia restaurateur Ellen Yin. As rising talent becomes scarcer than ever, experienced job-seeking chefs are demanding higher compensation. "You have your cooks that are very new and fresh or the ones who are in sous chef or CDC (chef de cuisine) positions that are looking for salaried jobs with benefits. But the in-between [roles] are the ones I’m finding most difficult to fill,” says Reneé Touponce, Executive Chef of Port of Call and Oyster Club in Mystic, Connecticut.
L.A. Chefs Rally For City Aid As Business Plummets After January Fires
Image Source: Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times
Media coverage of the L.A. wildfires has mostly stalled, but local chefs and restaurateurs are still picking up the pieces. The devastating fires caused beloved establishments like Bar Chelou to close permanently, while other restaurants are hanging by a thread. Chef Wes Avila noted a drop in sales north of 60% at his otherwise popular eateries, MXO and Ka'teen, while wine bar Ruby Fruit has launched fundraising events in hopes of reopening after a temporary closure. Restaurant owners and chefs across L.A. are joining alongside Avila and his business partner, Giancarlo Pagani, who has authored a petition addressed to Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass seeking aid for restaurants in the community affected by the fires.
The Backstory: Greed, Gluttony And The Crackup Of Red Lobster
Image Source: Lisa Sheehan
The fall of America's iconic seafood chain began in 2014 when parent company, Darden, sold it to private equity firm, Golden Gate Capital. Golden Gate enriched its shareholders by leasing the restaurant real estate for $1.5 billion. That saddled location managers with high rent expenses. Revenues soon dipped, so Golden Gate sold a majority stake to Thai Union, one of the world's (and Red Lobster's) largest seafood suppliers. The chain continued to lose market share, and by the end of the pandemic, its customer count had plunged 30%. Thai Union threw a Hail Mary to enrich its own coffers by making Red Lobster's "Endless Shrimp" promotion a permanent fixture (selling the chain more shrimp). Diners swarmed, expenses skyrocketed, revenues tanked, and in May 2024, the chain filed for bankruptcy, closing 140 of its nearly 700 locations. In 2014, the chain had been valued at $2.1 billion. Greed and mismanagement devalued the brand so much that last month Red Lobster was sold to Manhattan's Fortress Investment Group for the bargain price of just $375 million. A sad fish tale, indeed.
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