Solbar Executive Chef Brandon Sharp expressed great delight at the news released Monday that his restaurant has earned a Michelin star — a definite sign in the world of culinary rating that he has reached the big time.

“We’re pretty excited around here,” Sharp said late Monday. “I think for most chefs who have come up through the ranks, like I have, this is a very big deal — it’s what you hope someday will happen.”

Sharp’s Solbar, opened in 2007, is the first Calistoga restaurant to earn a Michelin star.

Michelin stars are found inside the Michelin Red Guide, a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for more than a dozen countries. The guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, awards the Michelin stars for hotels and restaurants of the highest quality.

André Michelin published the first editions of the guide in the early 1900s to help drivers maintain their cars, find decent lodging, and eat well while touring France.

The first guides for cities outside of Europe were published in 2005 for New York City and for San Francisco. The 2010 edition, announced Monday, is expanded to include more areas around the North Bay and include a new award, the Bib Gourmand category, also known as “Inspectors’ Favorites for Good Value.” It features restaurants serving a meal — two dishes and a glass of wine or dessert — for $40 or less. The 2010 San Francisco Michelin Guide adds 18 new restaurants to this edition, for a total of 62 affordable, yet incredibly delicious dining options.

“One of the things that makes this award so exciting to receive is that it’s probably the most-established rating system of its kind,” Sharp said. “The ratings you find in different cities are based on their own set of values but the Michelin star is the Michelin star. It’s the same everywhere.”

Local customer base

“The relationship I have in Calistoga is very special,” Sharp said. “I love what we do here, and it’s important for our customers to know that we’re not just a restaurant that crash-landed here. We pride ourselves on making a dining experience you’ll enjoy for its own sake.

“All of the things, like knowing where your food came from and what goes into its preparation, are all important, but the first thing is that that you can just sink your teeth into and enjoy — all of that other stuff just adds to make the experience better, but it’s the food and wine we want to stand alone first.”

Sharp estimates that 90-95 percent of his customers are local, Calistoga residents.

“That makes me extremely happy,” he said, adding that “some of our best customers come here sometimes three times a week.” “That’s very gratifying,” he added.

Other Napa Valley eateries

While Solbar puts Calistoga on the Michelin map, other Napa Valley communities are also enjoying the similar accomplishments of their chefs. For example, the French Laundry in Yountville has earned a rare three stars for the fourth consecutive year. The Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena rated two stars for the second year (as did Cyrus in Healdsburg). Other one-star Napa Valley restaurants included in the 2010 edition include étoile at Domaine Chandon in Yountville and Ubuntu in Napa. Those who’ve kept their single star rating from last year include Redd in Yountville, Bouchon in Yountville, Terra in St. Helena and Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford (on the Silverado Trail).

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