BREAKING: Michelin '09 Star Picks Here! Now!

At a press breakfast tomorrow at the Astor Center, the Michelin Man, Jean-Luc Naret, will announce the composition of the 2009 Michelin Guide for New York City. As is the tradition at the red book, included restaurants are awarded zero, one, two or three stars, the last of which is internationally considered among the highest honors in restaurant rankings. Simple inclusion is a serious achievement, too. With tomorrow will come the full list of restaurants, along with lots of commentary on it here and elsewhere. Oh, but, hey: how about we reveal the two- and three-starred restaurants right now? UPDATE: Screw it, we'll give you the one stars, too.

With thanks to a high-ranking Eater tipster who smuggled us camera phone photos of an embargoed copy of the guide book:

2009 Michelin Guide NYC
3 STARS
Jean Georges
Le Bernardin
Masa
Per Se
2 STARS
Adour
Daniel
Del Posto
Gilt
Gordon Ramsay
Momofuku Ko
Picholine

Now, some insta-commentary. The big winners have to be Masa, Momofuku Ko, Adour and Gilt. For Masa, recognition as the finest sushi restaurant in the land is a long time coming; it has previously ranked two stars and has three this year for the first time. The two star debut for Momofuku Ko lends the venue a fuck-off legitimacy that's going to send Chang haters into a real meltdown. At Gilt, the restaurant at the Palace Hotel and prominent Gossip Girl season 1 location, a hat tip is in order for Chris Lee, who can now be said unequivocally to have turned the restaurant around from its early days in the hands of Paul Liebrandt. And at Adour, Michelin's soft spot for Alain Ducasse isn't a secret; but while not a surprise, this will be quite good for business at Ducasse's new high bar in NY, which has been received less warmly by stateside critics. Check back in the morning for the full list of 2009 Michelin honorees and plenty more color to go along with.

· Michelin '08 Lands: Craft Loses Its Star, Ramsay Debuts with Two [~E~]

Update: The one stars, up now! But. Is the sky falling? Where is Babbo?

1 STAR
Allen & Delancey
Alto
Annisa
Anthos
Aureole
Blue Hill
Cafe Boulud
Cru
Dressler
81
Etats unis
Fiamma
Fleur de Sel
Gotham Bar and Grill
Grammercy Tavern
Insieme
Jewel Bako
JoJo
Kyo Ya
Robuchon
Modern
Oceana
Perry Street
Peter Luger
Public
Saul
Spotted Pig
Sushi of Gari
Veritas
Wallse
wd-50

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Momofuku Ko

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