The Michelin star is an accolade for restaurants across the world, indicating a high level of culinary excellence. It is considered one of the most prestigious awards for food that a restaurant can receive, so it is no surprise that many chefs and restaurateurs aspire to earn one. But does Michelin star exist in India?
The answer to this question is both yes and no.
The Michelin Guide has been published in India since 2016, but they have yet to award any stars. The guide lists restaurants in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi as “Plate” restaurants – which means that they are worthy of a visit for their quality food. While these restaurants may be excellent, they are not yet at the level of earning a Michelin star.
It is important to note that Michelin has not yet published a guidebook for all of India – only the five cities mentioned above are included. This means that there are likely many great restaurants throughout the country that could potentially qualify for a Michelin star, but they have not yet been evaluated by the Guide.
In addition to this lack of coverage, there are other factors that make it difficult for Indian restaurants to earn a Michelin star. Many Indian dishes rely heavily on complex spices and flavors which may be difficult for non-Indian judges to appreciate; also, certain regional specialties may be unfamiliar to them as well. Furthermore, some traditional Indian cooking techniques such as tandoori cooking can be hard to replicate in other countries.
However, there is hope that more Indian restaurants will eventually achieve Michelin status as the Guide expands its coverage and continues to recognize excellence in all cuisines. In 2019, two Indian-born chefs were awarded stars in France – Atul Kochhar from London and Manjunath Mural from Singapore – showing that it is possible for Indian cuisine to reach the highest levels.
In conclusion, although it may take some time before we see any Michelin stars awarded in India, the potential for excellence certainly exists. As more cities become included in the Guide’s coverage and more recognition is given to all types of cuisines around the world, we could soon see an Indian restaurant join the ranks of those receiving this prestigious award.
Conclusion:
To answer our initial question – Does Michelin Star Exist in India? – while no stars have been awarded yet due to limited coverage and certain challenges posed by traditional Indian cooking techniques, there is potential for excellence within India’s culinary scene and hope that more restaurants will achieve this feat as time passes by.