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Korea is the new star of New York gastronomy

Jungsik restaurant in Manhattan is first to get two stars in new Michelin guide to city

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Jungsik in TriBeCa was awarded two stars. Photo: SCMP

A Korean restaurant has for the first time won two Michelin stars in the 2014 New York edition of the prestigious gastronomy guide, which has awarded a record number of accolades.

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Seven restaurants won the guide's highest three-star rating, unchanged from last year, earning the description of "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey".

But in the two-star category of "excellent cuisine, worth a detour," the surprise breakthrough was Korean restaurant Jungsik, run by chef Jung Sik Yim in Manhattan's trendy TriBeCa neighbourhood.

"He's a brilliant young chef who worked in Korea, New York and also in Spain at a three-star Michelin [restaurant]," said Michael Ellis, international director of the annual guides issued by the French tyre company.

"It's a very personal cuisine, which combines his Korean origins with high-level European techniques for a superb cuisine d'auteur."

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The number of two-star restaurants in New York fell from seven last year to five.

They also include Atera, run by young chef Mathew Lightner in TriBeCa; Soto, a Japanese restaurant in Greenwich Village; the Italian Marea, near Central Park; and Momofuku, in East Village.

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