Have you ever wondered how restaurants get Michelin stars? Or how the Michelin star rating system came to be?
Well, here at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, we thought we should know the whole story. After all, some of the cooks we’re training may one day aspire to join the ranks of restaurants recommended in the iconic Michelin Guide.
The origins of the Michelin Guide trace back to the turn of the 20th century and were inspired by a surprising turn of events that have very little to do with cuisine.
The Unexpected Origins of the Michelin Guide
Interestingly, the invention of the Michelin star rating coincides with the invention of the automobile. The first Michelin Guide was compiled in 1900 by Michelin Tire founders, French industrialist Andre Michelin, along with his brother Edouard Michelin. They wanted to create demand for automobiles, and therefore, the tires they manufactured.
The first print of the Michelin Guide was 35,000 copies and included maps, along with instructions on how to repair and change tires. It also included a list of restaurants, hotels, mechanics, and gas stations along popular routes in France.
At the time, there were only a few hundred cars in all of France. The guide was given away for free, in hopes to create demand for cars. Within its first decade of existence, the Michelin Guide expanded rapidly and became available throughout Europe, as well as Northern Africa. Although the guides contained valuable information about restaurants, the ultimate end goal for the Michelin brothers was to generate profit for their tire business.
The Evolution of the Star Rating System
The Guide Adapts with Two World Wars
The outbreak of World War I in 1914 temporarily halted production of the guide, but by 1920 it was back on track.
It was then that the Michelin brothers decided to ramp up the quality of the guide, eliminate advertising, and start charging money for it.
The first Michelin star ratings were given in 1926. The restaurants, all of which were in France, were awarded a single star if they were deemed a “fine dining establishment.” In 1931, the rating system was expanded to become the Michelin three-star rating that it continues to be today.
Unlike most star rating systems, 1 star is not a bad thing. If any amount of Michelin stars are granted to a restaurant, it is a huge honor and a rare accomplishment.
Michelin Guide Star Rating Descriptions
1 Star: A very good restaurant in its category.
2 Stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour.
3 Stars: Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.
The guide took a hiatus during World War II, and only resumed in late 1939 because it contained maps that were useful to the Allied Forces. However, the Michelin star rating was reduced to a 2-star system during this time because of food shortages. Understandably, quality suffered at restaurants throughout Europe, so the yardstick was adjusted accordingly.
In 1955, Michelin came up with a rating system that acknowledged restaurants serving high-quality fare at moderate prices, called the Bib Gourmand. This system highlights dining opportunities that are more reflective of economic standards. They are customized by region and country based on the cost of living – and gives diners a chance to eat well without breaking the bank.
The Michelin Guide in the 21st Century
The Michelin star rating didn’t take hold in America until 2005 and concentrated solely on fine dining in New York at the time. Today, the Michelin Guide reviews restaurants in select U.S. cities including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and San Francisco. If you’re an aspiring chef, you’ll want to focus on these cities after graduation if that’s your career goal.
Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Macau were added to the Guide between 2007-2008. It now covers 23 countries, with 14 editions sold in 90 countries around the world.
Top 5 Countries with the Most Michelin Star Restaurants (2020)
- France – 628
- Japan – 577
- Italy – 374
- Germany – 307
- The United States – 169
How Does a Restaurant Get a Michelin Star?
First, the Michelin Guide team will select a number of restaurants in select locations to be inspected by an anonymous reviewer. After the inspector visits the selected restaurant, they write a comprehensive report about the total culinary experience, including the quality and presentation of the dishes, among other rating criteria outlined below. The group of Michelin inspectors will then meet to analyze the reports and discuss in-depth which restaurants are worthy of a Michelin star (or two or three).
Elements of the restaurant such as ambiance, decor, and quality of service are supposedly not considered in the report, but many think that the total experience may subconsciously woo the reviewers.
Michelin Inspector’s 5 Restaurant Rating Criteria
- Quality of products
- Mastery of flavour and cooking techniques
- The personality of the chef represented in the dining experience
- Value for money
- Consistency between inspectors’ visits
How Important are Michelin Stars?
No doubt, restaurants that receive a Michelin star rating are filled with pride, gain prestige, and usually get an increase in exposure and business. However, because of the extremely high expectations in the rating system, there’s been a growing trend to reject Michelin star ratings around the world – some restaurateurs even demanding that their star rating be removed. They feel that the expectations of the star system are unreasonable and restrict a chef’s creativity in the kitchen.
Still, in today’s culinary industry there’s a reverence held for the iconic Michelin star rating system. Some restaurateurs go so far as to say it’s the only rating that matters because it’s authentic – and they have a point – since Michelin inspectors are among the few who remain completely anonymous when reviewing a restaurant.
Although some restaurants claim to have learned how to tell, in theory – the casual diner will have the exact same experience as the inspector – no special treatment. And if a restaurant is attentive enough to figure out the signals a Michelin star inspector gives away, then that’s a restaurant that pays very close attention to their craft, and is probably worth a visit!
Click the link to check out all the Orlando area Michelin Star restaurants:
https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/search?type=restaurant&q=orlando%2C+fl