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As most of us may know, Michelin is a French tyre company with an ever so familiar mascot. But how did a tyre company also become known globally for its series of guidebooks, which rate restaurants and hotels based on the quality of their food, service, and overall experience. The most prestigious of these ratings is the Michelin star, which is awarded to restaurants that offer exceptional cuisine.
Since Michelin recently released their first edition guide book for Malaysia, aptly named, Michelin Guide Malaysia 2023. We thought, it’d be great to answer how Michelin Stars started and how a tyre company became so involved with food ratings. But first, we’ll start with the beginning.
The idea for the Michelin guidebook originated in the early 1900s, when the company’s founders, brothers Édouard and André Michelin, realised that the growing popularity of the automobile would lead to an increase in demand for tyres. They decided to publish a guidebook that would encourage people to travel by car and discover new places, with the hope that this would also lead to more tire sales.
Think of it like a travel guide for the time for all the hotspots to visit in the country. Today, we might pick up a travel book because we intend to visit that place. But for the time, travel books also served as entertainment and a way for people read about foreign lands, and the places to visit when they otherwise couldn’t afford to travel.
The first edition of the Michelin guide was published in 1900 and was initially distributed for free to French motorists. It included detailed maps, information on mechanics and car repair, and listings of hotels, garages, and other useful information for travelers. At the time, mainly the rich could afford an automobile which also meant a recommendation for drivers was also just as much a recommendation for the rich. This move towards making the guide book more prestigious, was also why in 1920, the guide book was no longer free and they removed all ads in the book.
In 1926, the guide began including restaurant recommendations, and in 1933, the first Michelin stars were awarded to restaurants in France. The criteria for awarding Michelin stars has evolved over the years, but it generally takes into account the quality of the ingredients used, the level of creativity and skill displayed in the dishes, the overall dining experience, and the value for money. A single star is awarded to restaurants that offer a high-quality dining experience, two stars signify a restaurant that is worth a detour, and three stars indicate a restaurant that is worth a special journey.
Michelin stars are highly coveted by restaurant owners and chefs, as they are seen as a symbol of excellence in the culinary world. It can take years for a restaurant to earn a star, and many restaurants spend significant time and resources trying to achieve this accolade. The process for awarding stars is highly secretive, with anonymous inspectors visiting restaurants and evaluating them based on the aforementioned criteria. Part of what gave Michelin Stars their value was partly because the guidebook at the time was made prestigious to cater for the rich at the time. Even today, that prestigious value is greatly coveted.
In addition to the main Michelin guide, which covers restaurants in France, the company also publishes guidebooks for other countries, including the United States, Italy, Japan and now Malaysia as well. These guidebooks are updated annually and often include new restaurants that have earned stars, as well as those that have lost them.
The Michelin guide has faced some criticism over the years, with some arguing that the rating system is subjective and that the criteria for awarding stars is unclear. Additionally, the guide has been accused of being Eurocentric and not adequately representing the diversity of cuisines found around the world.
Despite these criticisms, the Michelin guide remains a highly influential source of information for foodies and travelers looking for top-quality dining experiences. Its reputation as a respected and reliable source of culinary recommendations has made it a household name and has established the Michelin star as a symbol of excellence in the culinary world.
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