The Michelin star is one of the most recognizable symbols of culinary excellence in the world. It is a symbol that has been awarded to select restaurants for over 100 years, and one that has come to represent the pinnacle of fine dining.
The Michelin star system was first established in 1900 by the Michelin brothers, Andre and Edouard, who were two French entrepreneurs and publishers. The brothers created the system to help promote their newly-invented pneumatic tires.
They wanted to encourage travelers and tourists to explore France in their cars, so they decided to create a guidebook that would list all of the best restaurants in each area. By awarding restaurants with stars, they wanted to encourage diners to choose Michelin-approved establishments.
The first edition of the Michelin Guide was published in France in 1900, but it wasn’t until 1926 that the first stars were awarded. This initial system had three levels: one star for “very good food”; two stars for “excellent cooking”; and three stars for “exceptional cuisine worth a special journey”. These same levels are still used today.
Since its inception, the Michelin star system has become synonymous with fine dining around the world. The number of restaurants awarded stars has grown significantly over time, with more than 3,000 establishments currently receiving one or more stars. The coveted three-star rating is extremely rare and only reserved for exceptional cuisine.
Conclusion:
The Michelin star system began in France in 1926 as a way for travelers and tourists to find good restaurants while exploring the country. Since then it has become an internationally recognized symbol of excellence in cuisine, with thousands of restaurants around the world being awarded one or more stars each year.