Thomas Keller, long recognized one of the top chefs in the country, has maintained his distinction as the only chef in America to receive two three-star rankings from the Michelin Guide.

In Michelin's second annual guide to New York restaurants, which goes on sale today, Keller picked up three stars again for Per Se, his Manhattan restaurant, just three weeks after receiving three stars for the French Laundry in Yountville in the first San Francisco guide. With his star for Bouchon in Yountville, he holds a total of seven stars.

The only change among the top ranks of New York's restaurants in the newest Michelin Guide was the disappearance of Alain Ducasse, which is scheduled to close at the Essex House in January and move to a new location in the St. Regis Hotel. Jean Georges and Le Bernardin kept their three stars, which are awarded to restaurants serving ``an exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.''

Only four establishments received two stars, signifying ``excellent cooking, worth a detour.'' Mario Batali's Del Posto joined Daniel and Masa at that level. David Bouley's eponymous restaurant, Bouley, also was awarded two stars again, but his other restaurant, Danube, slipped to one star. Just 32 places were awarded one star, defined as ``a very good restaurant in its category.''

BAY AREA CHEFS ON THE SMALL SCREEN: In the weeks to come, catch three Bay Area chefs as they turn up the heat and the charm in front of the TV cameras.

On the Sundance Channel's new six-episode season of ``Iconoclasts,'' Alice Waters, founder of Berkeley's Chez Panisse, teams up with dancer extraordinaire Mikhail Baryshnikov. The show will air at 9 p.m. Nov. 2. For each hourlong show, produced by Robert Redford, two leading innovators from different fields come together to discuss their passions and inspirations.

Baryshnikov has been friends with Waters ever since he first had dinner at the landmark restaurant in the 1970s. They're such good buddies that he's the only one Waters ever let light up a cigar after smoking was banned in the restaurant.

At 9 p.m. Sunday on the Food Network's ``Iron Chef America,'' Elizabeth Falkner of Citizen Cake in San Francisco dukes it out in Kitchen Stadium with Iron Chef and fellow Northern Californian Cat Cora. Just what will the mystery ingredient be? Perhaps something sugary sweet?

In more ``Iron Chef'' news, Executive Chef Chris Cosentino of San Francisco's Incanto taped an episode a few weeks ago against Iron Chef Mario Batali. With both chefs known for their love of offal, be prepared for an -- ahem -- gutsy battle when the show airs in early 2007.

SPECIAL DINNER AT JUNNOON: Floyd Cardoz, who put modern Indian cuisine on the map in New York with Tabla and Bread Bar, will help prepare a special four-course dinner Nov. 2 at Junnoon, 150 University Ave. in Palo Alto, where he is a partner and consulting chef.

The dinner is $75, or $65 for the vegetarian version, and $25 for the wine pairing. Each diner also will receive a copy of Cardoz's new cookbook, ``One Spice, Two Spice'' (Morrow). The dinner will include dishes from the book, such as mushroom chickpea crepes with smoked tomato sauce, and mahi mahi stuffed with coconut-coriander chutney. For reservations, call (650) 329-9644.