Florida gets another two-star Michelin restaurant. See who just got added to the guide
On Thursday night at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, Sorekara Japanese restaurant become the second spot in the state to earn two stars from the Michelin Guide, which reviews and rates restaurants from around the world. The first restaurant to earn the two-star designation was Miami's L'Atelier du Joël Robuchon in 2022.
Located in the Baldwin Park neighborhood of Orlando, the restaurant, which offers a single seating only a few nights a week, 'proudly forges its own path,' according to the internationally renowned guide.
Chef and owner William Shen's spot 'is unlike anywhere else you've been, offering a surprising and delightful culinary journey that revels in turning expectations on their head,' according to the guide. The tasting menu 'highlights Japan's 72 micro growing seasons with highly original dishes infused with a sense of whimsy (not the course designed to mimic a convenience store snack run or the 'nigiri.') . . . There is an elegance and refinement threaded throughout the meal, which progresses through multiple rooms across several hours.'
Also honored at Sorekara was Austin Joseph, who won the Outstanding Service Award.
Sorekara wasn't the only new Orlando restaurant to be honored at the awards. Ômo by Jônt in Winter Park also earned a star. Led by Chef Ryan Ratino, whose Washington, D.C. restaurant Jônt has two stars, Ômo 'echoes that spirit and sensibility (think classic French techniques married with pristine Japanese ingredients), albeit with a few Florida touches. The space allows for discrete moments at each meal, while three tasting menus run the gamut from tightly edited and more affordable to loaded with luxury ingredients.'
Other Florida starred restaurants
Three other Florida restaurants earned their first Michelin stars on Thursday, too. Two of them are from cities just added to the guide this year: The Chef's Counter at MAASS in Fort Lauderdale and Konro in West Palm Beach, both of which serve contemporary cuisine.
The third newly starred restaurant in the state is Itamae Ao in Miami, a 10-seat counter that serves Peruvian/Japanese cuisine.
No spots in Tampa or the newly added Clearwater/St. Petersburg earned stars this year, but in the special awards category, Tyler Wolff at Ponte in Tampa won the Exceptional Cocktails Award.
In the 2025 Michelin guide, 31 Florida restaurants have stars. Miami leads the state with 15, while Orlando has nine. Tampa has earned five, and Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach have one apiece. No restaurants in the state lost a star.
Affordable honors
Several Florida restaurants were also added to the guide's Bib Gourmand list, which highlights restaurants that serve quality food at a great value.
The new additions include aioli and Palm Beach Meats from West Palm Beach; Heritage from Fort Lauderdale; Banh Mi Boy, Coro, Smokemade Meats + Eats and UniGirl in Orlando. Florida has 36 Bib Gourmand-designated restaurants.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
4 minutes ago
- Newsweek
French Bulldog Damages Home To Ensure He Can Enjoy 'Best Life' in Yard
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A viral video showing the extreme lengths a French bulldog will go to in order to play outside in the rain has left the internet in stitches. Dogs aren't always keen on going outside in the rain, but one French bulldog will do just about anything to run around in it. The dog's antics left his owner, Brit Orndorff, stunned, as she captured a video showing just how far he went to have his moment in the downpour. During the video, which was shared on TikTok (@brit_orndorff) on July 12, the owner shows the perfect Frenchie sized hole that he'd burrowed into the screen door. It was evidently in his way and he didn't mind tearing a hole through it to reach the outside. Upon discovering how her dog had escaped into the yard, Orndorff filmed him leaping around on the deck and practically dancing in the rain. Indeed, the Frenchie couldn't have looked happier, leaving his owner joking that he was "just living his best life, any way possible." A stock image of a French bulldog looking out of a glass door at the rain outside. A stock image of a French bulldog looking out of a glass door at the rain outside. LightFieldStudios/Getty Images In the days since the video was shared on TikTok, it has delighted social media users who can't get enough of the dog's antics. This has led to the viral video generating over 113,700 views and more than 12,300 likes on TikTok at the time of writing. Newsweek has contacted @brit_orndorff via TikTok for comment. We could not verify the details of the video. Thankfully, Orndorff was able to laugh at her dog's mischief as she wrote on TikTok that he's "so lucky he's cute." Meanwhile, her two other Frenchies couldn't be more different as they straight up "refuse to go out" when it's raining. Many French bulldog owners will be familiar with this chaotic energy, as the website PetMD suggests that the breed is fun-loving with very outgoing personalities. They are known for being curious and love being the center of attention, so this pup's antics appear to be very on brand. Since the video went viral, internet users have lauded the French bulldog for just living his best life and not caring about the rules. This has led to more than 570 comments on the TikTok post, as many defended the cheeky pup. One comment reads: "He just wanted his main character moment in the rain." Another TikTok user wrote: "He said it's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission." Another person joked: "those sliding screens are wonderful in concept, but are not built to withstand a dog that REALLY wants to go outside." While one commenter added: "You can tell he had 0 regrets." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Sony Takes Strategic Stake in Bandai Namco With $464 Million Deal
Sony Group Corporation has inked a strategic business alliance with anime and gaming powerhouse Bandai Namco Holdings Inc., with the electronics and entertainment conglomerate also acquiring a 2.5% stake in the company for approximately JPY68 billion ($464 million). The deal sees Sony purchasing 16 million Bandai Namco shares from existing shareholders, positioning the partnership to capitalize on the booming global appetite for Japanese intellectual property, particularly in the rapidly expanding anime sector. More from Variety Alex Garland Confirmed to Direct Live-Action 'Elden Ring' Movie From A24 and Bandai Namco Sony Earnings Surge on Gaming and Music, Pictures Take a Hit Sony in Talks to Buy 'Elden Ring' Publisher Kadokawa, Say Reports The two Japanese entertainment titans plan to leverage their combined strengths to expand fan communities worldwide and create what they're calling 'new and emotionally moving experiences' for audiences. The collaboration builds on the companies' existing partnerships across games, anime and music, but significantly broadens the scope of their joint efforts. Under the alliance, Bandai Namco will tap into Sony's production and distribution muscle in anime and video content, as well as merchandising capabilities, to expand works and services based on its IP portfolio. The companies also plan joint development and promotion of anime and manga properties, along with technical collaboration on experiential entertainment. The partnership extends to creator support initiatives, with plans for jointly developed entertainment technologies and services, plus potential co-investments and business alliances focused on fan engagement. 'The Bandai Namco Group promotes an IP axis strategy that aims to maximize IP value by leveraging the appeal and worldview of IP, providing the optimal products and services at the optimal timing in the optimal regions,' said Momoi Nobuhiko, executive vice president of Bandai Namco Holdings. 'We are filled with excitement about the potential to create new entertainment by combining Sony Group's strengths and technological capabilities across various entertainment fields with Bandai Namco's IP axis strategy.' For Sony, the deal aligns with its broader Creative Entertainment Vision strategy focused on maximizing IP value across its entertainment ecosystem. The company sees Bandai Namco's 'outstanding capacity for multidirectional expansion of diverse IP and deep connections with fans at real touchpoints' as key to expanding its global reach, according to Mitomo Toshimoto, Sony's chief strategy officer and representative corporate executive officer. 'Through this partnership, we aim to co-create an array of content and experiences that exceed expectations and deliver Kando (emotion) to even more fans,' said Mitomo. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The Young and the Restless spoilers: Victor goes low to make Cane pay for holding Nick and Sharon hostage?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Over the years, The Young and the Restless' Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) has proven he's the one person in Genoa City you never want to cross. Coming after his family or businesses is always a mistake because he has a long memory, he is a masterful tactician and he makes getting revenge look like a highly skilled art. With that being said, Cane (Billy Flynn) should be worried on some level. Not only has Cane been keeping Victor, Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott), Nick (Joshua Morrow) and Sharon (Sharon Case) cut off from the outside world at his French estate, but thanks to Adam (Mark Grossman), Victor knows Cane is making mysterious moves in Genoa City that could impact Newman Enterprises and Chancellor. All of this is offensive enough to The Mustache, but Cane now holding Nick and Sharon hostage in some kind of storage room while accusing Nick of murdering Damian (Jermaine Rivers) has fully infuriated Victor. Oh, and can you imagine how Victor will grow even more enraged when he learns that while Cane has been playing his games, Victoria (Amelia Heinle) and Claire (Hayley Erin) have been back home without their support system in the wake of Cole's (J. Eddie Peck) death. Cane better buckle in, because we can picture that sooner or later, Victor is about to make humbling Cane his number one priority, which should be good news for Jack (Peter Bergman), who has grown tired of his reignited feud with Victor. Should we be correct with our hunch, then we have to think about what Victor may wind up doing. If we had to guess, Victor might take things to a personal level since Cane has gone after his family. This is where things could get tricky and interesting at the same time. Cane went after Nick, but Victor probably won't go after Cane's twins, Mattie and Charlie, in a similar manner because of Lily (Christel Khalil) and Neil (Kristoff St. John). Neil was Victor's best friend, and despite crossing Lily over Chancellor, Victor still respects his best friend's daughter. So he wouldn't want to harm Neil's grandchildren. However, Cane has already suggested that Mattie and Charlie don't know about his secret Aristotle Dumas identity. Even when news breaks of Cane's secret persona, we can imagine Victor using Newman Media to help craft a negative image of Cane as a swindler and criminal, with the hopes of painting him in a bad light with the entire globe, especially Mattie and Charlie. Victor may want to do everything in his power to ensure Cane's two children want nothing to do with him. And this again is just the twins. As longtime viewers of The Young and the Restless know, Cane also has a younger son named Sam. Now Sam hasn't been brought up in a while; however, to our knowledge, he's around somewhere in the fictional soap world. Is it possible that the Newman patriarch will take a more direct approach in turning Sam against Cane, given Sam has no ties to Neil? Heck, will Victor even hope to weaponize Sam against Cane in some form or fashion? Lastly, we can't shake the possibility that Colin (Tristan Rogers) is very much alive and well, despite what Cane has alleged. If he is, and Victor learns of this, you better believe Victor would seek him out and drag the truth out of Colin about what he and Cane have really gotten themselves into and how they acquired their wealth. All in all, we're kind of excited to see Victor have another opponent on the scene to level. As much as his revived feud with Jack was fun to watch at first, that rivalry has lost its gusto as it seems to be one-sided. Jack is not interested in going toe-to-toe with Victor these days. New episodes of The Young and the Restless air weekdays on CBS. Episodes become available to stream on Paramount Plus the next day.
