subject: Explaining the Michelin Guide and Its Stars [print this page] Explaining the Michelin Guide and Its Stars
Perhaps, you have heard a friend said, "Oh, let's try this restaurant. I heard it has 3 Michelin stars." If you are involved in the culinary industry, this statement will instantly catch your attention. Perhaps, you will likely drag your friend to the establishment yourself. This is not the case, however, with some people. What is really the difference between a Michelin-starred restaurant and a place without any star to its name? What makes the former better than the latter?
Let's Get to Know Michelin
Michelin Guide or Le Guide Michelin is actually a series of guidebooks that is issued annually. This book offers review of various hotels and restaurants. This guide is a fairly established one. Nobody questions this. After all, it has been around since the 1900s. For over 20 years after the first book was published by Andre Michelin, the guides were issued and offered for free. Originally, the guide takes note of exceptional cooking and food. Later on, it took into consideration other aspects of a restaurant business as well. These things include dcor, service, ambiance, popularity and more. Only the best dining establishments in the world have earned stars from this guide.
Understanding the Stars
A restaurant can actually earn one to three stars depending on how good it is. Do not think that the guide is generous distributing this honor. In fact, it is fairly stingy. It awards sparingly, so those who have a star to its name is indeed very lucky for this is such a great honor.
A one-starred restaurant is a "very good in its category". Now, if a dining establishment can claim two stars, this means that you better take that detour and experience the excellent cooking of the chef. If a restaurant has 3 stars to its name, you should definitely take that flight and experience the genius of the chef. This requires a special journey just for the dining experience alone. Three-starred restaurants are very rare. Again, these stars are awarded sparingly, so you won't often find Michelin starred dining establishments. Therefore, it is not surprising that people who are in the culinary business take these stars very seriously.
Chefs and restaurateurs aspire to earn at least one from Michelin. If this guide gives you the nod, you can expect your business to boom. Getting their recognition is like getting a mark of excellence. On the strength of this mark alone, a business can charge exorbitant prices for their meals; and still, people would want to eat. That's the power a star from Michelin gives.
