Guess Who Summers in Sausalito?

[Kare Anderson]

Jean-Luc Naret, the Michelin Guides' global director, to the Bay Area's expanding gastronomic allure, spends his summers in Sausalito.

He was asked, last year, “Is it harder for a newly-opened restaurant to crack the stars?

For example, this year, Murray Circle was the only restaurant opened in '08 to get a star but its chef, Joseph Humphrey, earned two last year so he's already established himself to the Michelin inspectors as a "starworthy" chef.”

Naret answered, “Well no, it's not any harder for a new chef to crack stars. When a new restaurants opens, we still take a look at the chef and the job he's doing. The chef at Murray Circle is doing a great job and in a funny twist, the restaurant he left, Meadowood, earned two stars right away even though it has a new chef as well.”

Naturally he believes the guides are still the sexiest guide in town.