Ian Scaramuzza and team awarded two stars for Mélisse in Michelin Guide California 2021
Ian Scaramuzza and his team at Mélisse Los Angeles have been awarded two Michelin stars in the 2021 guide for California, months after joining the restaurant and helping to reopen it after it was refurbished.
The second edition of the California Guide, as Michelin decided to forego publication last year due to the devastating effect of coronavirus and wildfires had on the restaurant industry, saw 22 restaurants win a Michelin star and another five (including Mélisse) received two.
Other two star restaurants were Addison in San Diego, Birdsong in San Francisco, Hayato in Los Angeles and Harbor House in Mendocino County. Here is a link to the full list of restaurants having received accolades.
2015 Roux Scholar Ian, who honed his craft with the likes of Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles at Claude Bosi at Hibiscus, was named chef de cuisine at the restaurant owned by award-winning chef and restaurateur Josiah Citrin earlier this year, after departing from his role at In Situ, Corey Lee's one star restaurant at MoMa San Francisco.
The restaurant, first opened in 1999, earned two Michelin stars, the first in 2009 and the second in 2010. In 2019, chef owner Josiah Citrin - who also owns acclaimed restaurants Mélisse Santa Monica, Charcoal Venice, and Dave’s Doghouse - decided to steer it in a new direction.
The restaurant was split into two concepts, Mélisse and Citrin, with Citrin being the more casual side, with an a la carte offering, shared plates and a bar area, and Mélisse a more intimate space where 28 guests can try out the chef's tasting menu.
Reacting to the news that his team earned back the restaurant's two stars, Ian said it was his "biggest career achievement to date," thanking Josiah Citrin, chefs Ken Takayama and Justin Oh, wine director Matthew Luczy and his wife Anne Marie.
"This is only the beginning," he added.
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