Latest news with #PhoMomma
Forbes
26-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Michelin Honors Localis Chef As Pho Momma Joins Bib Gourmand
Michelin Guide 2025 California Ceremony Michelin brought its annual California awards ceremony to Sacramento, giving the capital city a rare moment at the center of the national dining conversation. Held at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center, the evening honored exceptional restaurants from across the state. Among them, Localis chef-owner Chris Barnum-Dann received one of the night's top individual honors: the Michelin Sommelier Award. Meanwhile, local favorite Pho Momma joined the prestigious Bib Gourmand list, cementing its status as one of Sacramento's best under-the-radar dining gems. Chef Chris Barnum-Dann of Localis The Sommelier Award, given to just one chef or beverage lead in California, recognized Barnum-Dann's intuitive, globally inspired wine pairings. Barnum-Dann was acknowleged for his ability to take risks in the glass, matching unexpected wines with layered, high-impact dishes, from Thai-inspired spice with Riesling to octopus piccata with Austrian red. It was a moment of validation for Localis, which retained its Michelin star for the third consecutive year. Asked by the Michelin Guide to describe how he built his wine list, Barnum-Dann said: Inside the auditorium's lobby, Barnum-Dann and The Kitchen's executive chef Kelly McCown showcased Sacramento's culinary perspective. Localis served wagyu beef tartare over ginger-tapioca chips, along with a vegetarian bite built around roasted sunflower panna cotta, sunflower brittle, black garlic purée, and pickled cucumber. The Kitchen, which also held onto its Michelin star, leaned into peak Northern California seasonality with heirloom tomato tartlets topped with Ossetra caviar and a scallop ceviche finished with coconut and passionfruit. Chef Kelly McCown of Sacramento's The Kitchen Over in La Riviera, Pho Momma has long drawn locals for its $6 bowls of pho and hand-rolled spring rolls. Now it is officially on the map. One of just six new Bib Gourmand recipients across the state, the family-run Vietnamese spot was recognized for offering exceptional food at approachable prices. Chef-owner My Le makes every dish herself, simmering broth for days and wrapping each rice paper roll to order. Her restaurant joins the guide's value-focused category alongside Sacramento holdovers Canon and Nixtaco. Vladimir Ilich Not every Sacramento mainstay made the list. Michelin dropped longtime entries Frank Fat's, Yue Huang, and Mulvaney's B&L, reducing the region's total recognized restaurants to 15. Still, Sacramento's presence on Michelin's biggest night signaled growing momentum for a region long known for its ingredients but not always its dining scene. Midtown newcomers Majka and Kin Thai were added to the guide earlier this spring for their inventive menus and strong community roots. Drone shot of Sacramento When I asked what continued Michelin recognition means for Sacramento's food scene and its identity as a culinary destination, Mike Testa, CEO of Visit Sacramento, said: This year's ceremony underscored what many in the region already knew: Sacramento has earned its place in California's culinary conversation.
Epoch Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Michelin Guide 2025 Welcomes New California Restaurants From LA, SF, and San Diego
The Michelin Guide recently announced 13 additions to its 2025 California Guide, highlighting culinary talent across the state. One of the restaurants on the list, Pho Momma, located in an unassuming strip mall in Sacramento, was recognized for its exceptional food and warm customer service. 'My location is in an old neighborhood, with no other nice businesses around. So when the customers come in, we try to make them forget where they're at, and give them a wonderful dining experience, and a nice clean atmosphere,' owner My Le, who also cooks and serves the fresh Vietnamese dishes, told The Epoch Times on May 20. The restaurant serves refreshments such as iced Vietnamese coffee, iced milk tea, and sweet tea. In addition, the restaurant offers a variety of traditional dishes, starting with fresh spring rolls, fried appetizers, as well as entrees of meat and tofu pho and 'Momma's Specials,' such as garlic noodles, chicken wings, and curry beef stew with rice. Most restaurants on the Michelin Fresh spring rolls by Pho Momma in Sacramento, California. Courtesy of My Le Los Angeles Komal Komal, a new Mexican restaurant at Mercado La Paloma, serves Mexico City-style street food and pre-Hispanic dishes to South Los Angeles. Its founders are Fátima Juárez and Conrado Rivera. Related Stories 6/23/2024 2/1/2025 The restaurant, located at 3655 S. Grand Ave. in L.A.'s historic South Central, is known for its masa, house-made from ethically sourced heirloom corn from Oaxaca and the state of Mexico. Dishes include antojitos like tlacoyos with heirloom beans, molotes de plátano in Oaxacan mole negro, and the 'Taco Sonia,' with beef shoulder, pork longaniza, and mashed potatoes, as seen on Komal's website. Somni Somni, led by chef Aitor Zabala, reopened in November 2024 at a new West Hollywood location at 9045 Nemo St. The new 14-seat chef's counter features dishes such as shiso tempura puff with beef tartare and a whimsical 'Cow and Her Milk' cheese course. Zabala, a Barcelona native and former El Bulli chef, stresses sustainability with a Power Knot LFC-50 biodigester that turns food waste into water. The restaurant has earned five stars on OpenTable. Vin Folk This Parisian-style bistro and wine bar at 1213 N. Sepulveda Blvd. in Hermosa Beach serves Californian cuisine with French influences. On the menu are small plates such as Jowl and Mackerel, Beef Tongue, and Garganelli Shrimp, as well as a robust wine list. San Diego County Atelier Manna A coastal café at 1076 N. Coast Hwy 101, Atelier Manna is located in Encinitas' funky Leucadia neighborhood. The restaurant features seasonally focused fare, including shareable breakfast and lunch dishes. Atelier Manna focuses on local ingredients and nonalcoholic tonics. Some of the cafe's signature dishes include locally caught halibut with sudachi and coconut leche de tigre or Oaxacan steak and eggs topped with smoked tomatillo mole. The restaurant's patio is made of recycled materials. Lilo Chef Eric Bost's Lilo, out of Carlsbad, offers seasonal ingredients with global influences. At 2101 Costa Del Mar Road, the small location includes a 22-seat chef's counter. Bost's menu blends French techniques inspired by Japanese cuisine and California flavors. Tanner's Prime Burgers In San Diego County, another restaurant located along the 101 made this year's Michelin List. At 2002 S. Coast Hwy in the Freeman Collective, Tanner's Prime Burgers is the creation of chef Brandon Rodgers and Eric Brandt of Brandt Beef. Offering fast-casual food, the burgers are made with single-sourced 100 percent USDA Prime Brandt Beef, and feature fries cooked in all-natural beef tallow to dip in housemade garlic aioli. The restaurant's shakes are made with 100 percent organic dairy products and pure Dutch cocoa. Burgers go for between $10 and $15. 24 Suns A contemporary Chinese restaurant in Oceanside, California, 24 Suns started as a pop-up concept and is now a full restaurant at 3375 Mission Ave. Former Addison chefs Nic Webber and Jacob Jordan founded the restaurant, which offers Chinese dishes such as Sichuan Dry Aged Toro Crudo and Wok'd Local Greens sourced from Chino Farms. The restaurant also offers a large selection of cocktails and high tea. San Francisco Bay Area Sungho This Korean restaurant, located at 250 Hyde St. in the Tenderloin district, has made a name for itself serving authentic Korean Soul Food. The restaurant specializes in gukbap, a traditional rice soup made from 24-hour-simmered pork bone broth, tender pork, and inspired by the recipes of Sungho's grandmother. OpenTable diners give Sungho a rating of 4.8 stars, thanks to its juicy and tender meats and great service. Ethel's Fancy This contemporary Californian restaurant combines Japanese and Hawaiian cuisine at 550 Waverley St. and is led by chef-owner Scott Nishiyama. The restaurant's shareable, seasonal small plates include katsu-style swordfish and crispy pork belly. The chef has experience at Michelin-starred Daniel, The French Laundry, and Chez TJ. OpenTable diners rate the restaurant's rustic and elegant feel, with a 4.8-star diner rating for exceptional cuisine. The restaurant also serves fancy cocktails. Eylan This Californian-Indian restaurant at 500 El Camino Real, in The Villa Menlo Park, features wood-fired, seasonally driven cuisine. Chef Srijith Gopinathan combines regional Indian flavors with local ingredients. The restaurant serves celeriac and pineapple kebab, king trumpet mushrooms, and Gulf shrimp. OpenTable diners rate the restaurant 4.4 stars for services and delicious dishes. Michelin's full 2025 list will be
CBS News
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Michelin Guide adds 3 more Sacramento restaurants to its list
SACRAMENTO – California's capital city is getting more recognition from the Michelin Guide. On Wednesday, the Michelin Guide revealed that three Sacramento restaurants were added to the prestigious list. Two of the new restaurants, Majka and Kin Thai, are on the Grid, while Pho Momma is just east of Sacramento in an otherwise unremarkable strip mall. Majka was hailed by the Michelin Guide reviewer as being "at the forefront of the Sacramento pizza scene," Kin Thai's sweets got a shoutout from its reviewer, and Pho Momma's high-quality ingredients left a lasting impression. None of the new restaurants added to the Michelin Guide were awarded a star, at this point. The guide has a June event planned in Sacramento where Michelin's coveted stars will be awarded to California restaurants. With the three new additions, a total of 17 Sacramento area restaurants are now listed on the Michelin Guide. Of that 17, only The Kitchen and Localis have been awarded a star.
