Why Was the Michelin Star System Created?

The Michelin star system is one of the most prestigious accolades in the culinary world. Developed in 1926 by French tyre manufacturer Michelin, it was designed as a way to distinguish great restaurants from those that were merely good. The system has become so influential that many chefs strive to earn stars and use them as a marketing tool to attract customers.

The Michelin Guide has become an invaluable resource for food lovers, providing an impartial review of restaurants around the world. It awards one to three stars to restaurants based on their quality of food, atmosphere, service and overall experience. Each star signifies a different level of excellence: one star indicates a very good restaurant in its category; two stars denote excellent cuisine, worth a detour; and three stars signify exceptional cuisine worth a special journey.

The beauty of the Michelin system is that it is completely anonymous. Inspectors go to restaurants incognito and rate them without anyone knowing who they are.

This ensures that chefs cannot curry favour with the inspectors or manipulate reviews in any way. The guide also does not accept any advertising from restaurants, further maintaining its impartiality.

The original motivation behind creating the Michelin star system was to encourage people to travel around France. By awarding stars to restaurants, Michelin hoped that people would be encouraged to drive more often and visit different regions of France, thus boosting business for its tyres.

Today, the Michelin Guide has grown far beyond its original purpose.

It is now used across the globe as a benchmark for excellence in cuisine and service. Chefs use their ratings as a way to gain recognition and attract customers while customers use it as an indicator of quality when deciding where to eat.

In conclusion, the Michelin Star System was created by French tyre manufacturer Michelin in 1926 in order to promote travel within France by encouraging people to drive more often and visit different regions. Over time it has evolved into an internationally recognised benchmark for excellence in cuisine and service.