Le Jardinier Retains One Michelin Star For Their Modern French Gastronomic Experience In Miami Design District

The MICHELIN Guide recently revealed the second edition of its Florida Stars for 2023 and Miami Design District’s Le Jardinier of the Bastion Collection has retained its coveted Michelin star for the second straight year. The Miami Design District staple, located in the lavish Paradise Plaza, brings an approachable yet refined experience to modern French gastronomy. Le Jardinier is led by Culinary Director Alain Verzeroli, Executive Chef James Friedberg and Chef de Cuisine Max McCarthy.

Le Jardinier is known for its local ingredients, sustainable seafood, poultry and meat and impressive cocktail program that pairs well with the seasonal menu. The chefs are very intentional about each ingredient in the restaurant’s dishes, nothing goes to waste. Le Jardinier’s modern, light-filled space and lush outdoor dining area evoke a tropical garden vibe within the Miami Design District.

“This award means so much to the Le Jardinier team and it solidifies the consistent work we all put in every day,” said Max McCarthy, Chef de Cuisine at Le Jardinier Miami.

Also of the Bastion Collection and located just upstairs, Le Jardinier’s sister restaurant, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, is the only Two MICHELIN Star rated restaurant in Florida for the second year running.

The MICHELIN Guides are one of the most influential restaurant review publishers. The MICHELIN Guides were first published in 1900 the French tire company Michelin and are published annually by city across the globe. For the first time in 2022 did Florida restaurants have the ability to earn a coveted MICHELIN Star, in which a restaurant can earn up to 3. A restaurant can annually earn or lose stars, making the MICHELIN Guide highly competitive among chefs and restaurants. Restaurants can also earn a Bib Gourmand award which recognizes good quality, good value restaurants.

Led by a team of culinary experts and operations leaders dedicated to the highest of standards, The Bastion Collection has developed, opened and currently operates restaurant and food concepts across New York, Miami, Houston and Geneva and collectively holds five MICHELIN stars. Bastion Collection restaurants include L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Le Jardinier, Café Leonelli, and Bar Bastion.

Images via Sebastian Bednarski

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Only Florida Restaurant to Retain Two Michelin Stars In 2023

The MICHELIN Guide recently revealed the second edition of its Florida Stars for 2023 and Miami’s L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon was the only restaurant in Florida to retain two Michelin stars for the second straight year. Worth a detour into Miami Design District to experience the modern French menu in a seductive setting, L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, of the Bastion Collection,  is named after the late Chef Robuchon, the “Chef of the Century” who held 32 Michelin Guide stars, the most of any restaurateur.

Robuchon’s legacy lives on at his chain of L’Atelier restaurants across the globe that includes this Miami outpost, the only two Michelin star restaurant in  Florida, where his protégés Culinary Director Chef Alain Verzeroli, Executive Pastry Chef Salvatore Martone and Executive Chef James Friedberg and carry on his culinary philosophy of elevating the simplest of dishes into something extraordinary using pristine ingredients, immaculate technique, and abundant creativity.

The Miami restaurant’s signature counter seating faces directly into the open kitchen, allowing for a dynamic interaction between chefs and diners. The modern French menu includes Robuchon’s iconic signature dishes alongside new, ever-changing seasonal creations utilizing ingredients sourced from top local and regional purveyors.

“It’s a great recognition for the team at every level,” said Alain Verzeroli, Culinary Director at The Bastion Collection. “It’s a big honor to receive two MICHELIN Stars again this year for L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon. We are always working to improve every day to continue to make it a better experience for our customers. I’m really proud of our team.”

“So honored to carry on the legacy as Florida’s only two-star MICHELIN restaurant,” said James Friedberg, Executive Chef at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon and Le Jardinier Miami. “Our team strives for the absolute best and this acknowledgment is a proof to their hard work and dedication and our continued pursuit for perfection.”

Also of the Bastion Collection, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon’s sister restaurant located just downstairs, Le Jardinier, retained one MICHELIN Star.

The MICHELIN Guides are one of the most influential restaurant review publishers. The MICHELIN Guides were first published in 1900 the French tire company Michelin and are published annually by city across the globe. For the first time in 2022 did Florida restaurants have the ability to earn a coveted MICHELIN Star, in which a restaurant can earn up to 3. A restaurant can annually earn or lose stars, making the MICHELIN Guide highly competitive among chefs and restaurants. Restaurants can also earn a Bib Gourmand award which recognizes good quality, good value restaurants.

Led by a team of culinary experts and operations leaders dedicated to the highest of standards, The Bastion Collection has developed, opened and currently operates restaurant and food concepts across New York, Miami, Houston and Geneva and collectively holds five MICHELIN stars. Bastion Collection restaurants include L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Le Jardinier, Café Leonelli, and Bar Bastion.

Images via Sebastian Bednarski

Michelin Starred Chef Shingo Akikuni to Open His First Restaurant, Shingo

Critically-acclaimed Chef Shingo Akikuni will open his very first restaurant, SHINGO, on Thursday, May 11, 2023 inside the historic La Palma building in Coral Gables. SHINGO is an intimate, 14-seat, omakase restaurant that will offer an 18-course dining experience featuring traditional Japanese nigiri, seasonal sashimi and Yakimono dishes with premium sake pairings. Chef Akikuni brings his years of experience and accolades to SHINGO. Most recently, he served as executive chef at Miami’s Japanese fine-dining restaurant Hiden. Under his helm as executive chef, Hiden was one of the first restaurants in Miami to be awarded one star from the MICHELIN Guide in 2022.

The 850-square-foot space has been entirely designed and constructed by expert woodworkers in Kyoto, Japan before being de-constructed, transported and reassembled in Miami. Upon entering SHINGO, guests will feel as though they have been transported to Japan’s classic omakase dens. The restaurant features traditional Japanese design elements and vintage materials, including the use of Hinoki and Sugi woods on the counter, ceiling and grand entrance, which doubles as an art gallery. The dining room features an intimate “L-shaped” 14-seat counter made of a rare 10 meter slab of Hinoki wood. Special touches and details are found in every moment at SHINGO, from the unique silver chopstick holders, crafted to resemble food shapes, to an array of custom-made ceramic plateware created by Kyoto-based ceramics maker Shin Murata.

Passionate about sharing Japanese culture through food in America, Chef/Owner Akikuni is excited to add to the thriving dining scene in Miami and seeks to provide diners with an individualized experience based on their personalities and preferences.

“I first moved to Miami five years ago, and I feel that the restaurant scene has been booming year by year, featuring so many passionate and talented chefs whom I call my colleagues and friends,” says Chef Shingo Akikuni. I'm overjoyed to be able to open my first restaurant in Coral Gables using the experience and skills I've learned working in restaurants in Tokyo, New York and Miami. I’m looking forward to serving our guests dishes that change with the seasons and to continue to add value to the culinary landscape in Miami.”

The 18-course menu at SHINGO will change seasonally, with a rotating selection of fresh sushi variations and Yakimono dishes which are prepared through traditional grilling practices. Guests can expect dishes such as Japanese Binchotan Charcoal Grilled Eel topped with caviar and fresh wasabi served with premium sake. Personally sourced and selected by Akikuni himself, SHINGO'S fresh ingredients are imported from Japan and found locally in Florida.

Shingo Akikuni is a third-generation sushi chef originally from Osaka, Japan, and is recognized as one of the best sushi chefs in Florida. Growing up making sushi at his family-owned restaurant in Osaka, Chef Akikuni was taught and trained by both his father and grandfather before coming to America in 2017. Previously, Akikuni served as Sushi Chef at an award-winning sushi restaurant in Tokyo, before moving to Miami and taking on positions as Sous Chef at Sushi Azabu, and, finally, as Executive Chef at Hiden, where the restaurant was awarded a Michelin Star.

SHINGO is located at the La Palma building at 112 Alhambra Circle, Coral Gables, FL 33134. SHINGO will be open for dinner five days a week (Tuesday – Saturday) with two seating options at 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM. The 18-course omakase experience is $180 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. An optional wine and sake pairing is available for $95 per person.

The MICHELIN Star Guide to Miami Design District: Restaurants In MDD Claim Four MICHELIN Stars And Four Bib Gourmand Awards

The first Florida MICHELIN Guide is out and Miami Design District emerged as the leading hotspot neighborhood with their restaurants receiving four MICHELIN Stars and four Bib Gourmand awards. The MICHELIN Guides are one of the most influential restaurant review publishers. The MICHELIN Guides were first published in 1900 the French tire company Michelin and are published annually by city across the globe. For the first time in 2022 did Florida restaurants have the ability to earn a coveted MICHELIN Star, in which a restaurant can earn up to 3. A restaurant can annually earn or lose stars, making the MICHELIN Guide highly competitive among chefs and restaurants. Restaurants can also earn a Bib Gourmand award which recognizes good quality, good value restaurants.

Miami Design District’s French hotspot, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, was the only 2-Star-honoree in the state of Florida. Cote and Le Jardinier rounded out the Miami Design District’s Michelin Star recipients each earning 1 Star.

Restaurants in Miami Design District also notably received four Bib Gourmand awards for the neighborhood’s mediterranean outpost, Mandolin Aegean Bistro; Peruvian-Japanese hotspot, Itamae; American staple, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink; and acclaimed bakery, soon to join the neighborhood, Bachour.

Other restaurants in Miami to receive a MICHELIN Star were Ariete, Boia De, The Den at Sushi Azabu, Elcielo Miami, Hiden, Los Felix, Stubborn Seed, and The Surf Club Restaurant from Chef Thomas Keller at The Four Seasons Surf Club.

Miami also had 15 more restaurants receive a Bib Gourmand award including Chug’s Diner, Doya, El Turco, Ghee Indian Kitchen, Hometown Barbecue, Krus Kitchen, La Natural, Lung Yai Thai Tapas, Phuc Yea, Red Rooster Overtown, Sanguich de Miami, Tinga y Cafe, Zak the Baker, and Zitz Sum.

Miami Design District is one of the hottest neighborhoods in the world, home to a number of luxury fashion houses, art galleries, fine dining experiences, and cafés. The open-air, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, known for its many distinct and artistic façades, notably boasts a highly energy-efficient infrastructure and became the first neighborhood in the world to achieve the Gold level (LEED ND: Built v4 Gold). The neighborhood was inspired by the worlds leading shopping districts including Fifth Avenue and Rodeo Drive and visitors can enjoy mature canopy-covered streets and walkways, sculptural specimen trees, and extensive rooftop gardens.

MDD MICHELIN Star Winners:

L’ATELIER DE JOËL ROBUCHON (2 Michelin Stars)

L’atelier Miami is the newest incarnation of the late Chef Joël Robuchon’s groundbreaking concept, which first opened in Paris’s Saint-Germain neighborhood in 2003, and has since planted roots in the Miami Design District. L’Atelier’s name refers to a craftsman’s workshop, exemplifying immaculate technique and abundant creativity. The format of the menu at L’Atelier allows guests the flexibility to create their own experience. A meal can be composed of an à la carte selection of small plates, appetizers, and entrées, or the 4-course Summer Menu “Aux Saveurs L'été” a 4-course seasonal tasting with choices for each dish.

COTE (1 Michelin Star)

COTE, the Michelin-starred and James Beard Award-nominated KOREAN STEAKHOUSE™ and vision of proprietor Simon Kim, unveiled in Miami’s Design District in February 2021. The 5,892-square-foot restaurant emulates its flagship, high-energy New York City-based locale synonymous with marrying the fun and fire of Korean barbeque with the hallmarks of a classic, regal American steakhouse. The result is a unique and convivial atmosphere infusing a fine dining experience with world-class ingredients and service complemented with a show-stopping beverage program.

Le Jardinier (1 Michelin Star)

The French word for "gardener," Le Jardinier's cuisine and setting evoke a modern greenhouse in the heart of the Miami Design District. Michelin-starred Chef Alain Verzeroli's menu is focused on utilizing the highest quality vegetables, seasonal ingredients, and fresh herbs, fitting seamlessly into the modern, light-filled interiors designed by award-winning Architect Pierre-Yves Rochon. The refined yet approachable cuisine, atmosphere, and service creates a holistic hospitality experience for guests.

MDD Bib Gourmand Winners:

Mandolin Aegean Bistro (Bib Gourmand)

Mandolin will greet you with a dose of warm, genuine, Mediterranean hospitality as you indulge in the taste and traditions of the Aegean. Founded by husband and wife team Ahmet Erkaya and Anastasia Koutsioukis, Mandolin Aegean Bistro opened in Miami in 2009. They restored a 1940's home with one of the most notable gardens and outdoor patio space in Miami, where every attention to detail matters. Dedicated to using local ingredients while incorporating the Aegean techniques, this Turkish-Mediterranean cuisine has put Miami Design District’s dining on the map

ITAMAE (Bib Gourmand)

Located across from famed Buckminster Fuller's Fly's Eye Dome in Miami Design District’s Palm Court Plaza, Itamae is a 40 seat restaurant from Chefs Nando, Valerie & Fernando Chang offering technique driven, Peruvian-Japanese flavors and traditions while also celebrating local and seasonal ingredients. Itamae made The New York Times' 2021 Restaurant List as well as being regarded as one of the best restaurants in Miami by The Infatuation.

MICHAEL’S GENUINE FOOD & DRINK (Bib Gourmand)

The special experience that results when delicious food and thoughtful service come together, designed by a team who cares about great products and making people happy. Locals and visitors alike embrace and crave this unique approach to dining out — some may consider Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink a second home, a place where they’re comfortable, that they want to share with friends.

BACHOUR (Bib Gourmand)

Antonio Bachour grew up in Puerto Rico and was hooked on pastry from a young age, thanks to a childhood spent in his family’s bakery. He dedicated his first few years honing his trade in Puerto Rico as a pastry cook at Sand Hotel and Casino and Westin Rio Mar. In search of a better place to continue growing professionally, 2001 found Bachour States-bound, in Miami Beach, as executive pastry chef at Talula. Pretty soon he was trying his hand at Italian delicacies at both Devito South Beach and Scarpetta in New York and Miami.

Images via Miami Design District