Since it first brought its popular-in-Europe restaurant guides for New York six years ago, there has been something of a cold war going between Michelin and the other publisher of red-toned restaurant guides, the recently-Googled Zagat Survey. The two companies put their New York guides out within days of each other and regularly try and steal each other's media thunder while distracting consumers from the plethora of free online reviews available (*cough* Yelp *cough*). Now, with both companies' 2012 guides set for release next month, the French tire company has gone and fired this year's opening shot today by releasing its "Bib Gourmand" list of restaurants serving two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less (excluding tax and gratuity). Interestingly, it seems the fancy restaurant guide is taking the Times' lead and starting to look beyond Manhattan a bit. more ›

Though more influential abroad, the Michelin restaurant guide is still kind of a big deal for NYC restaurateurs and chefs, who take great pride in receiving a star ranking from Michelin. (The guide only started reviewing NYC restaurants in 2005.) The new edition hits shelves tomorrow, and contains some noteworthy news for the fine dining world. With Michelin, receiving one star is a sign of achievement, not mediocrity, so Chef Michael White is surely tickled pink to see that his new seafood-centric restaurant Marea debut with a star, his Convivio also receives one star, while his Alto has been upgraded to two stars. more ›

Wildly successful young chef and restaurateur Michael Psilakis – whose Anthos is one of only two Greek restaurants in the world with a Michelin star – refined his talent not in culinary school but in the kitchen beside his Greek mother during his childhood on Long Island. After earning a business degree, he found himself drawn back to the food world, where he worked his way up from waiter to owner of the Long Island restaurant Ecco. His subsequent enterprise with celebrated restaurateur Donatella Arpaia, called Dona, was one of Esquire's Best New Restaurants in 2006, but the place closed when the building housing it was sold to a developer. more ›