The Local Palate Magazine | Best Restaurants 2026 PUB199203 elevating everything from a hot

elevating everything from a hot dog to fresh fruit to a hearty stew with elements of smoke and char

and cumin-roasted sweet potatoes

or Siglinda Scarpa's Italian fruit tart

who ran an Italian restaurant for a number of years

The Local Palate Magazine | Best Restaurants 2026 PUB199203 elevating everything from a hot"What makes a restaurant exceptional? The South was abuzz with this question even more so than usual with the arrival of the very first MICHELIN Guide to the American South, with the award ceremony held in Greenville, South Carolina, last November. Were thrilled for those recognized, some of whom are also mentioned in these pages, and on page 18, writer Ariel Blanchard relates what a number of chefs had to say about the positives and challenges caused