And The Stars for The 2017 Michelin Guide Washington are...

The first Michelin Guide for Washington DC has been released, awarding three restaurants with two stars and nine restaurants with one star. No restaurant received the coveted three-star rating (see full list below).

The two-starred-restaurants are Mini Bar, headed by chef Jose Andres, Pineapple & Pearls by chef Aaron Silverman as well as The Inn at Little Washington, which is run by celebrity chef Patrick O’Connell.

The edition also listed representations from 33 different types of cuisines. Highlights include a debut entry for Balkan cuisine as well as Washing D.C’s specialty, ‘Mid-Atlantic cuisine' – a style that emerged from the cooking techniques and flavours of early pioneers as well as influences from immigration.

This is an indicator of the city’s culinary diversity, according to Michael Ellis, International Director of The Michelin Guides.

“Over the last five years the culinary offering has significantly developed in the city, driven by chefs who have travelled, have trained abroad and have enriched their cuisine on their return by incorporating new techniques, new flavours, and new seasonings,” he says.

"This gastronomic revival is amplified and supported by the "Mid-Atlantic cuisine" led by young chefs who have decided to take advantage of their terroir and work local products, thereby giving Washington a unique culinary identity."

The 2017 Michelin Guide Washington DC is just one of the many recent launches that includes new territories like Shanghai as well as annual updates for UK & Ireland. Next month will also see two more launches – an inaugural guide for Seoul and the 9th Edition for Hong Kong & Macau.