Los Angeles has always had “star” power, but when Michelin announced in June 2019 that 24 Greater Los Angeles area restaurants had been awarded with its most prestigious accolade in its inaugural Michelin Guide California selection, it suddenly meant more than just A-listers and cinema cachet. Indeed, of the seven new two-star distinctions in the Guide, six are in L.A., further cementing its accolades as “the Most Exciting Food City in America.” Of course all that means little when sheltering in place has shuttered hundreds of the city’s exciting dining spots. The COVID-19 outbreak has launched L.A.—and Mayor Eric Garcetti—into the spotlight. The city was the first metropolis in the country to demand almost full closure, “and the biggest city to go to full closure of all nonessential businesses,” the mayor pointed out recently. Combine that foresight with California’s fast action on lockdowns, and L.A. is positioned to come back brighter. Its cultural and culinary leaders—so willing to step up and declare the city open for business after a series of natural disasters, helping the city rank #2 in our Promotion category—will be called upon again soon. They’ll do their best to keep their city’s #2 ranking in the subcategory of Facebook Check-ins and #3 for Instagram Hashtags and Google Trends. Anything to get the City of Angels off the ground.