What Year Was the First Michelin Star Awarded?

Michelin is a tire company that began awarding stars to restaurants in 1926 with their first guide book. The concept began as a way to encourage people to travel and explore France’s culinary offerings.

The Michelin star rating system assigns each restaurant one, two, or three stars based on the quality of its food, service, and dining experience.

The criteria for Michelin star awards are stringent and difficult to attain. This is why the stars are considered a hallmark of excellence in the culinary world. Restaurants are judged on five criteria: quality of ingredients, skill in preparation and combination of flavors, mastery of cooking techniques and food trends, value for money, and consistency over time.

For a restaurant to receive the highest accolade – three stars – all five criteria must be met with excellence. A two-star rating signifies excellent cuisine in its category while one star indicates good cooking that is worth a stop during your travels.

The Michelin Guide has become a global institution since its inception in 1926. It has expanded beyond France to encompass other countries in Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Today there are over 3,000 Michelin-starred restaurants across the globe.

Conclusion

The first Michelin Star Award was awarded in 1926 when the first guide book was published by the tire company as an incentive for travelers to explore French cuisine. Since then it has become an internationally recognized symbol of excellence for chefs and restaurateurs around the world with over 3,000 restaurants having achieved this prestigious award today.