The year of Michelin honors is officially under way. The dining world’s prestigious Michelin Guide on Wednesday named 15 restaurants in the Bay Area, Central Coast and Southern California as “new discoveries” — a prelude to the release later this year of its California stars.

On Wednesday, the Michelin Guide announced 15 new additions to its California guide, including seven Bay Area restaurants. While being added to the California guide does not mean a restaurant has earned a Michelin star or Bib Gourmand distinction,

The Michelin Guide, a culinary roadmap of must-try places, added 15 new restaurants for California, and nearly half of them are in the Bay Area.