Michelin Guide DC Awards Three Stars To The Inn at Little Washington

WASHINGTON, Va., Sept. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Just two years after launching their culinary bible to the top DC area restaurants, the Paris-based Michelin Guide awarded The Inn at Little Washington three Michelin stars, the first and only restaurant in the DC region to secure the top honor.

"Receiving three stars from the Michelin Guide during the celebration of our 40^th anniversary is the best birthday present anyone could get. In our industry, it's like winning an Olympic gold medal, a Nobel prize and the lottery all in one," said Chef/Proprietor Patrick O'Connell. "I thank Michelin for this wonderful acknowledgment of our team's efforts and I extend my congratulations to all of my fellow chefs in Washington, DC who have been recognized by the esteemed Michelin Guide for their hard work and talent."  

The Michelin Guide was first established 118 years ago as an incentive for motorists to drive from region to region as a way to sell more tires.   A one-star rating is defined as a very good restaurant in its category, two stars is worth a detour, and three stars is defined as "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey."  Restaurants are reviewed by anonymous inspectors who base their reviews on product quality, preparation and flavors, the chef's personality as revealed through his or her cuisine, value for money, and consistency over time and across the entire menu. 

Patrick O'Connell received the good news from Michael Ellis, the international director of the Michelin Guide, and made the announcement to the Inn staff of 148 shortly thereafter.  A small crowd gathered in the town square of the rural village of Little Washington (pop. 133), including the Major of Washington, to celebrate this historic moment.   

A self-taught chef, also known as the Pope of American Cuisine, O'Connell opened his restaurant on January 28, 1978 in the midst of a blizzard, with a staff of just three people. It didn't take long before one of DC's food critics took notice and wrote a review that set history in motion. Since then, the humble building which began as a gas station is now a Forbes 5 Star, AAA 5 Diamond, Relais & Chateaux hotel and a mecca for lovers of food, wine and romance.   

About The Inn at Little Washington:
The Inn at Little Washington is located in the historic village of Washington, Virginia in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, 67 miles west of the nation's capital. A Relais & Chateaux property, The Inn has been a culinary destination since Chef and Proprietor Patrick O'Connell converted a former garage in 1978 into a world-acclaimed destination. Among its many accolades, The Inn and Chef O'Connell have received five James Beard Awards, including Best Restaurant in America and Best Chef in the US.  The Inn was also named the #1 restaurant in the 2017 Washington Post Fall Dining Guide and it is the longest tenured Forbes 5 Star restaurant in America.   Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @innatlittlewash or for more information, go to: www.theinnatlittlewashington.com

Contact:
Annette Larkin
alarkin@theinnatlittlewashington
540-675-5228

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SOURCE The Inn at Little Washington