FEATURE STORY

Grandma Walking Through Forest in Emilia at Rezdôra

Vestry Reaching for the Stars

The haute guide to the latest Manhattan restaurants to earn their Michelin stars.

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE

REZDÔRA

Nestled on a cozy side street in Manhattan’s Flatiron District lies Rezdôra, an intimate Italian restaurant that celebrates the authentic cuisine of the Emilia-Romagna region. As the culinary love child of esteemed chef Stefano Secchi and partner David Switzer, Rezdôra’s niche is tradition. From house-made pasta to traditionally prepared meat and fish, Rezdôra immediately immerses guests into the rich heritage of this northern Italy region. It is this very sentiment that has garnered the attention of Michelin. “To become a part of [the Michelin] family is inspiring, but more than anything, I hope to be a part of the next generation that teaches the generation after me the respect for this life and profession,” admits Secchi. “Michelin is supportive of that, and it’s humbling to see that.” 27 East 20th St, New York

TSUKIMI

Named after the Japanese tradition of gathering under the full moon with seasonal food and sake as offerings to the moon and as a prayer for a good harvest — also known as ‘moon viewing’ — Tsukimi fuses the past with the present to create the ultimate modern Japanese dining experience in the East Village. Helmed by Executive Chef Takanori Akiyama, Tsukimi serves an elaborate 12-course tasting menu, including the chef’s signature sea urchin and caviar dish he first created in 1999. The legendary dish is followed by a savory rice course prepared in a donabe pot with a special, premium rice, Yukitsubaki. To complete the dynamic menu, Japanese wagashi-inspired desserts are served with a bowl of matcha. The Michelin-starred menu embodies bold yet elegant flavors, making the perfect gourmet harmony. 228 East 10th St, New York

English Pea Soup at Tsukimi Tsukimi

Lasagna for Two at Don Angie

Rezdôra

VESTRY

In 2020, chef Shaun Hergatt opened Vestry, a sophisticated dining destination specializing in American seafood dishes with few authentic Japanese ingredients, in the heart of Soho. Hergatt quickly caught the eye — and palette — of many, impressively earning one Michelin star within the first year of opening. Known for his technically precise cooking and painterly presentations, chef Hergatt draws on the surroundings of the iconic Soho neighborhood to curate a culinary experience like no other. 246 Spring St, New York

KOCHI

With dishes inspired by traditional festival cuisine of the Korean royal court, Kochi has mastered the highest form of dining. In a sleek space in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, Kochi’s chef Sungchul Shim debuts a nine-course tasting menu of modern, skewered dishes, combining local and seasonal ingredients with French and Japanese techniques learned throughout his career. Royal-inspired delicacies include the steamed turbot with Korean mustard cream, gamtae, turbot mousse, and daikan, as well as the braised short rib made with soy mushroom broth, barley, and Korean pumpkin purée with the option of supplementing it with Périgord black truffle. 652 10th Ave, New York

DON ANGIE

Don Angie is a West Village institution. Perhaps because of its acclaimed Lasagna for Two or its upscale take on Italian American comfort food, Don Angie has become a must-visit Michelin-starred restaurant in Manhattan. Founded by the husband-and-wife team of Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli in 2017, the intimate space exudes familiarity, warmly welcoming guests to indulge in Rito and Tacinelli’s passion for challenging conventional Italian American cuisine. Incorporating global flavors in subtle yet exhilarating ways, the menu offers a unique array of dishes, including the Prosciutto & Papaya Salad with tamarind, hazelnut, and sheep’s cheese; the Sorpresine & Smoked Mussels with peroni, pimenton, and cilantro macho; the Sourdough Pasta Cacciatore featuring mezcal-braised chicken, nduja, and Sicilian olives; and the Don Angie’s Fior Di Latte Mochi and Black Cocoa Tiramisu to end on a sweet note. 103 Greenwich Ave, New York Kochi

Hood Canal Oysters at Vestry

WINNING

SCORE! CHECK OUT THE ATHLETEOWNED WINE LABELS THAT SHOULD BE ON YOUR RADAR PAIRS

BY LAURA SCHREFFLER

THE ATHLETE: Danica Patrick

Danica Patrick is a glass ceiling breaker, best known as the most famous female race car driver of all time. In 2008, she became the first woman to win an IndyCar Series event with her victory in the Indy Japan 300. Transitioning to stock cars, she went on to break records competing in NASCAR’s top series.

THE WINES: Somnium and Danica Rosé THE STORY

After a fated trip to Napa Valley’s Quintessa, a determined Patrick made it her mission to open her own winery, and purchased a vineyard on Howell Mountain in 2009. The development of her label, Somnium, began with a Cabernet Sauvignon in 2011. Following the brand’s success, she added a new wine label, Danica Rosé, an approachable French rosé produced in the traditional Provençal style.

THE ATHLETE: Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade has been named one of the NBA’s 75 best players of all time for a reason: his love of and dedication to the game of basketball. He spent the majority of his 16-year career playing for the Miami Heat, winning three NBA championships;he was also a 13time NBA All-Star, an eight-time member of the All-NBA Team, and a three-time member of the All-Defensive Team.

THE WINE: D Wade Cellars THE STORY

Dwyane’s love of wine was fueled by the food and wine he enjoyed with his teammates Chris Bosh and Lebron James while playing for the Heat. During a 2014 harvest trip to Napa Valley, he decided to partner with friend Jayson Pahlmeyer on a label, and D Wade Cellars was born. The brand currently makes a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Chenin Blanc, and a rosé.

THE ATHLETE: Charles Woodson

Charles Woodson is a former NFL defensive back who played 18 seasons with the then-Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers, winning his Super Bowl ring with the latter. He is the only primarily defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy. He was also the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year, 1998 Defensive Rookie of the Year, the 2015 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award recipient, and a 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.

THE WINE: Intercept Wines

THE STORY

After falling in love with Napa Valley during training camps with the Oakland Raiders, Woodson launched his own label, Twenty Four, with Robert Mondavi winemaker Rick Ruiz. After retiring, he joined forces with family-owned O’Neill Vintners & Distillers and winemaker Amanda Gorter out of Paso Robles, California, to create a Pinot Noir, red blend, the limited edition Hall of Fame Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Chardonnay. The brand launched regionally in 2019 and nationally in 2020. THE ATHLETE: Greg Norman Australian golfer Greg Norman, otherwise known as the “Great White Shark”, has won more than 90 tournaments worldwide, including two Open Championships, and is a 2001 inductee of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Norman now transcends the game of golf, with over a dozen companies around the world bearing his name and his iconic shark logo, and has designed 100 golf courses across six continents.

THE WINE: Greg Norman Estates THE STORY

Norman founded his Greg Norman Estates in 1996 as an internationally recognized collection of 10 varietals from Australia, New Zealand, and California — including Napa Valley, Paso Robles, and Santa Barbara — with fourteen 90+ point scores to its record. Today, Norman runs the brand with his daughter, Morgan-Leigh Norman, who serves as proprietor and brand ambassador.

THE ATHLETE: Drew Bledsoe

Former American pro footballer Drew Bledsoe played 14 seasons in the NFL (1993–2001) as a starting quarterback for the New England Patriots, which earned him a place in the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2011;he also played for the Buffalo Bills and the Dallas Cowboys.

THE WINE: Doubleback Wines THE STORY

Upon retiring from the NFL in 2007, Bledsoe “doubled back” to his hometown of Walla Walla, Washington, to realize a long-held dream of establishing an estate-focused winery with the goal of crafting a rich and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon. The result? Doubleback. True to his systematic success, the very first vintage immediately earned rave reviews.