Indian cuisine has always been appreciated for its vibrant and rich flavors. The spices and herbs used in Indian cooking make it one of the most popular cuisines in the world. But does any Indian restaurant have a Michelin star?
The Michelin Guide is a prestigious guide that rates restaurants all over the world, awarding them with one to three stars. A single star means that the restaurant is “a very good restaurant in its category”, while two stars mean “excellent cooking, worth a detour”. A three-star rating signifies “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey”.
Michelin Stars in India
Though there are several Michelin-starred restaurants around the globe, there are currently no Indian restaurants that have achieved this honor. But a few Indian chefs have been awarded Michelin stars for their work abroad. For instance, Atul Kochhar became the first Indian chef to receive a Michelin star for his London-based restaurant, Benares.
Reasons Why No Indian Restaurant Has a Michelin Star
There could be various reasons why no Indian restaurant has yet achieved this honor. One of them could be that many traditional recipes and techniques are passed down from generation to generation without being documented or formalized. As such, it can be difficult for an outsider to assess and appreciate them at an international level like the Michelin Guide does with its ratings system.
In addition, most chefs in India tend to focus on regional cuisines rather than experimenting with different ingredients or developing new techniques as is often seen in other countries’ restaurants which are featured in the guidebook. This means that many of these traditional recipes and techniques may not meet the criteria set by the Michelin Guide for awarding stars to restaurants.
Conclusion
Though there are currently no Indian restaurants with a Michelin star rating, some individual chefs have been recognized by this prestigious guidebook for their work abroad. The traditional recipes and techniques used in India may not meet the criteria set by the Michelin Guide for awarding stars to restaurants which could be one of the main reasons why no Indian restaurant has achieved this honor yet.