EmploymentCrossing.com Three of the four New York restaurants awarded three stars in the latest Michelin Awards competition belong to the prestigious Relais & Chateaux association. Relais & Chateaux, established in France in 1954, is an exclusive collection of 480 of the finest hotels and gourmet restaurants in 56 countries. The award-winning restaurants were Per Se, featuring Chef Thomas Keller; Le Bernardin, with by Chef Eric Ripert; and Jean Georges with Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. In the only awarding of a Michelin three-star designation for two restaurants run by a single chef in the US, The French Laundry in the Napa Valley, also headed by Chef Thomas Keller, just received three Michelin stars. This is the 2nd consecutive year that Chef Keller has been granted a total of six Michelin stars. Organization president Jaume Tapies said, "These results once again demonstrate that Relais & Chateaux is the international benchmark, not only for the world's finest hotels, but also for the world's best restaurants." The Michelin guide is published annually by the French tire company. The awarding of Michelin stars is the most important status symbol in international cuisine, and even receiving one star is considered an honor.