FLAGSTAFF (AZFamily) — Nineteen Arizona restaurants have earned honors in the inaugural Michelin Guide Southwest, though no restaurant in the state received a coveted Michelin star.
Eighteen of the honored establishments are in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Atria, located in downtown Flagstaff, was the only restaurant outside of the Valley to receive a Michelin recommendation.
Chef Reacts to Landmark Recognition
Rochelle Daniel, the head chef at Atria, grew up in the Valley but said she fell in love with Flagstaff and the local ingredients she could utilize.
“Fine dining is true to my heart,” Daniel said. “Honestly, the creative side of being fine dining and the elegance, the touch, the beauty on the plate.”
Daniel said the unique environment of northern Arizona inspires her culinary team.
“Just the bounty that northern Arizona brings to these restaurants,” she said. “You can go foraging for lobster mushrooms. You can go foraging for watercress. There’s just a bunch of things you don’t necessarily find in the Valley.”
Michelin Expands Into the Southwest
To create the Southwest guide, Michelin inspectors reviewed dining establishments in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Nevada for the first time. Daniel said her kitchen staff spent months preparing for potential visits from anonymous reviewers.
“It’s just putting our best effort forward, and it’s evolving and pushing ourselves,” Daniel said. “So it’s actually good for the restaurant. It’s good for me.”
The guide was announced last week, and Daniel said the team’s dedication is yielding results.
“To be recognized really truly means something to us,” she said. “We stand out a little bit more because my team is so passionate and continues to evolve and push the boundaries.”
While celebrating the recommendation, Daniel said her ultimate goal remains a Michelin star.
“Honestly, what that means for us is we have to work for a star,” Daniel said.
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