What Is a Michelin Star and How Did This Concept Start?

Michelin stars are the most prestigious awards in the culinary world, representing the highest quality restaurants. The Michelin Guide has been the benchmark for restaurant excellence since its beginnings in 1900. It is one of the most sought-after awards in the restaurant industry and remains a highly-coveted accolade.

Michelin stars are awarded by anonymous inspectors from Michelin Guide after a comprehensive review of each restaurant. The reviewers assess criteria such as quality of ingredients, level of technical skill, and overall taste and presentation.

They also take into account atmosphere, service and overall dining experience. A single star signifies very good cooking, two stars denote excellent cooking with worth a detour and three stars represent exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey.

The concept of Michelin stars began with two brothers, André and Édouard Michelin, who founded the Michelin tire company in 1889. In 1900 they published their first guidebook to help motorists find their way around France, which included restaurants as well as hotels and mechanics. They added star ratings to select restaurants in 1926 to help drivers decide where they should eat while out on the road.

Since then, the Michelin Guide has become an international authority on fine dining with its star ratings being widely recognized as a benchmark for quality across Europe and beyond. The number of starred restaurants continues to grow each year with over 3100 currently holding at least one star rating.

Conclusion:
What started out as a way for motorists to find food on lengthy journeys has grown into an internationally-renowned symbol of culinary excellence – the Michelin star. The concept began with two brothers who wanted to create a guidebook for travellers and has since evolved into an esteemed award that is highly sought after by chefs worldwide. With over 3100 starred restaurants around the world, it’s clear that having a Michelin star still carries great prestige today.