⭐ Michelin Adds New Stars to U.S. Dining Scene

June 26, 2025

In partnership with

🍽️ What’s Cooking?

Michelin Adds New Stars to U.S. Dining Scene

The Michelin Guide has unveiled its latest U.S. selections, adding new stars across California, New York, Washington D.C., and Chicago. Several restaurants earned their first star, while others moved up in ranking. The update highlights a growing appreciation for diverse cuisines and chef-driven tasting menus that focus on locality and seasonality. The guide continues to shape how diners view fine dining in America.​ ​Read more.

🃏 Running a Smoother Kitchen

Create a Shift Reset Checklist

Introduce a “Shift Reset” checklist that covers essential prep, clean-up, and equipment checks between lunch and dinner service. Keep it short—under 10 items. This mini reset keeps the kitchen organized, boosts staff morale, and helps avoid common late-shift mistakes. Laminating and posting the list in prep areas helps keep the habit consistent.

Unlock new career opportunities with Codecademy

Whether you’re looking to change careers or advance in your current role, Codecademy can help you build job-ready tech skills.  

With Codecademy Pro, you’ll be able to:   

  • Unlock access to over 600 courses and career paths 

  • Get step-by-step guidance through everything you need to land the job you want 

  • Prepare for top industry certification tests

 Daily Menu readers can save 15% on an annual Pro membership and start learning in-demand topics like AI, data science, and cybersecurity.

Just use code SKILLUP15 at checkout.

🚀 Scaling Up

Why Suppliers Need Early Insight into Restaurant Growth

Franchise and chain restaurant growth often moves fast, but behind the scenes, suppliers and tech vendors struggle to keep up. A new report explains how early visibility into upcoming openings—especially soft-launch and pre-construction phases—can help vendors offer better support. From POS installations to supply chain setup, having this lead time improves service quality and speeds up go-live success. Read more.

🦾 Fresh Ideas

McDonald’s Introduces ‘Mini’ Happy Meal Toys

In a nostalgic nod with a modern twist, McDonald’s is rolling out miniature versions of its classic Happy Meal toys. These “SuperShrink” toys are part of a limited campaign and are designed to attract both kids and collectors. The company is also testing how these smaller toys affect packaging, shipping, and customer experience—hinting at new ways to cut costs and reduce waste while keeping the brand fun. ​Read more

Showcase your brand/product/services in our newsletter to thousands of leaders in the restaurant industry! Contact us today to advertise with Daily Menu.

Disclosure: Some content in this newsletter may be sponsored or include affiliate links. Daily Menu might earn commissions or have a business interest in featured companies. Read our privacy policy.