AUSTIN, Texas — Austin dominated in the inaugural 2024 Michelin Texas ceremony on Monday night. It's the first time the prestigious award has been given to Texas restaurants.
Austin received seven of the 15 Michelin stars awarded to the five major Texas cities. All received one-star designations:
- Barley Swine
- Craft Omakase
- Hestia
- Olamaie
- InterStellar BBQ
- La Barbecue
- LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue
KVUE visited Hestia, which is among the group that each received one star.
Watching the kitchen, you'll see that nearly every dish at the almost 5-year-old restaurant is kissed by fire and garnished with precision.
"Yeah, a shock to be a part. Like, to have a seat at the table. But almost like, relief," said Zenil Mondragon, the service director at Emmer and Rye Hospitality Group.
Emmer and Rye Hospitality Group had multiple Austin restaurants receive Michelin recognition:
- Hestia: one Michelin star
- Emmer & Rye: Michelin green star and Michelin Bib Gourmand
- Ezov: Michelin-recommended restaurant
"The food is very creative, pulls a lot of global inspiration in its recipes and techniques, but the focus is always: What is the relationship with farmers and ranchers and fishermen in Texas?" Mondragon said. "How can we support them so that there is sustainability to then help us keep these ideas going?"
Staff at Hestia said within 24 hours of receiving a Michelin star, reservations increased between 100% and 400% depending on the day.
"Austin, specifically, was put on the world map now as a foodie place to go," said Emily Williams Knight, the president and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association.
Knight said what made the night even more special was three Austin barbecue restaurants received Michelin stars, which had never been done before.
"Austin is the first ever to have a barbecue restaurant designated with the Michelin star," Knight said. "Barbecue is such a hallmark for Texas and so unique and special, so to see these restaurants recognized was just, it was awesome."
She predicts the coveted recognition will bring more international travelers to the state capital, as well as more restaurants.
"Now that they know this recognition is available, I think you're going to see a lot of people competing for it," Knight said.
She also said restaurants that were not chosen will see some of the traffic.
No Texas restaurants received two or three stars, but next year, they get the chance to try again.
"The goal is really: How do we maintain what we've been doing?" Mondragon said. "How do we stay consistent? How do we maybe go for the next boundary?"
They want to make sure their newfound flame stays hot.