How do you get a Michelin star? In other words: what are (Green) Michelin stars based on?
On Monday, October 7, 2024, the Michelin stars will be awarded once again. It’s a moment that many chefs eagerly—and nervously—look forward to. We recently highlighted some favorites for a star in 2024. Will they receive one, two or perhaps three stars from the critics of the famous guide this year? And what are these Michelin stars actually based on? How do you get a (Green) Michelin star or Bib Gourmand?
The origins of the Michelin Guide
For many people, the story of how tire manufacturer Michelin, founded by the French brothers André and Édouard Michelin, began rating restaurants is well known. Established in 1900, the guide was a 400-page tourist advertising booklet that was handed out free of charge to motorists. It contained all kinds of practical information about gas stations, garages and places to eat and stay overnight.
In the 1920s, the focus shifted to restaurant reviews, and the first Michelin star was awarded in 1926. The rating system was subsequently expanded to three stars between 1931 and 1933, establishing the guide’s status as a culinary authority. The meaning of one, two or even three stars is as follows:
- One Michelin star: high-quality cooking — worth a stop
- Two Michelin stars: excellent cooking — worth a detour
- Three Michelin stars: exceptional cuisine — worth a special journey.
What are Michelin stars based on?
Michelin stars are awarded for one year and reassessed annually by inspection teams from the famous guide. They do so based on anonymous and independent restaurant experiences. Contrary to popular belief, Michelin stars are awarded solely for the quality of the cuisine a restaurant offers at a particular moment. Impeccable service, mouth-blown crystal wine glasses, porcelain tableware and a relaxed atmosphere? All well and good, but these factors are not taken into account, according to Michelin.
Service, tableware and atmosphere are important aspects that inspectors do document. But, as Michelin states, they are not included in the decision to distinguish the restaurant in question with that coveted star. Although… service is indeed considered when awarding a star. This mainly concerns the consistency of the service throughout the entire menu and between different visits.
Restaurant assessment
Five criteria, applied in the same way all over the world, are used to assess a restaurant:
- The quality of the products: only the best, freshest ingredients are valued
- Mastery of cooking techniques: the chef’s technical skills are crucial
- The harmony of flavors: how well flavors and textures come together in the dishes
- The personality of the cuisine as expressed on the plate: innovation and originality play an important role here
- Consistency: the consistency of the service throughout the entire menu and between different visits.
A Green Michelin star
In addition to the regular Michelin star, Michelin awards another distinction: the Green Michelin star. There are no clearly defined criteria that the restaurant must meet for this. Michelin’s description is just as vague as its archaic wording: ‘The distinction promotes the most committed players in the field of environmentally friendly gastronomy and their concrete initiatives. From paying attention to the origin of products to respecting seasonality, from managing waste or the restaurant’s resources to the ability of restaurant teams to make their guests aware of the establishment’s sustainable approach: these initiatives can take very different forms, depending on the challenges and resources specific to each restaurant.’
In short: environmentally friendly gastronomy. Personally, I think a Green Michelin star says much less about the quality of a restaurant. I’ve eaten at wonderful restaurants — sustainable, nose-to-tail and root-to-flower, no waste, etc. — and wondered why on earth they didn’t have a Green Michelin star. The reverse is also true; recently I ate at a restaurant with a Green star where everything was perfectly in order in terms of sustainability, but the food wasn’t tasty. Great, such a compelling sustainability story, but when you eat out, don’t you mainly want the food to taste good?
Bib Gourmand
Finally, Michelin awards another distinction: the Bib Gourmand. This is about the best value for money. In other words: delicious food at a reasonable price. These are the new Bib Gourmand restaurants of 2024.
