I asked Chef Carlos Delgado, owner and chef at Taco Maria, if he was surprised by being awarded a Michelin star.
“Yes and no,” said the master of Alta California cuisine.
“I moved to Orange County to do my work quietly among my family and my community, but we always from the onset have been working as though we were a Michelin star restaurant. That was my frame of reference.”
In summarizing the one-star designation of Taco Maria, Michelin reviewers said, “This simply appointed, but highly desirable darling boasts some of the best and most refined tacos in town. Brought to you by the intensely creative chef, Carlos Salgado, lunch service may primarily focus on elevated tacos. But in truth, this kitchen shines through its prix-fixe dinner— complete with other culinary interpretations from the chef’s Mexican heritage, as well as top-notch produce sourcing and techniques honed during his fine-dining training.”
Justification
I asked Chef Ross Pangilinan of Mix Mix Kitchen Bar about being one of five restaurants in OC receiving the Bib Gourmand designation.
“I’m excited about it,” he told me. “When I opened Mix Mix, that is what I wanted Mix Mix to be—really good food at a good value. Being recognized by Michelin is amazing for us and our team. We feel really good about what we’re doing.”
“It justifies all the hard work.”
