Michelin stars are the gold standard of excellence in the culinary world. Chefs and restaurateurs strive to earn them, often spending years in pursuit of that coveted third star. But who was the first person to receive a Michelin star?
The Michelin Guide has been awarding stars since the early 1900s, when brothers Andre and Edouard Michelin founded their eponymous tire company. The guide was initially created as a way to encourage people to travel, so they could buy more tires. As such, it included hotel and restaurant recommendations to help travelers find good places to stay and dine along their journeys.
The first Michelin star was awarded in 1926 to French chef Fernand Point, who ran La Pyramide restaurant in Vienne, France. Point was widely regarded as one of the most influential chefs of his time and his restaurant was renowned for its innovative cuisine. He also established a cooking school at La Pyramide that trained some of the greatest chefs of the 20th century.
In 1933, Michelin decided to recognize exceptional restaurants with stars graded on a scale from one to three. The first ever three-star award went to La Pyramide under Point’s leadership in 1933, making him the first person ever awarded with three Michelin stars. Point continued running La Pyramide until his death in 1955 at age 70.
Since then, many other restaurateurs have achieved Michelin star status, but Fernand Point will always be remembered as the first person ever honored with this prestigious award. His legacy lives on through his students who have gone on to achieve great things in their own right, further cementing his place as a pioneer in culinary history.
Conclusion: Fernand Point was the first person ever awarded with Michelin stars for his restaurant La Pyramide in Vienne, France back in 1926. He received the first-ever three-star award in 1933 and set an example for chefs around the world that has been followed ever since.