Your quick wiki to the Michelin Guide’s Philippine debut

Filipino restaurants get first-ever Michelin stars.

You may have heard about the Michelin stars years ago from Gordon Ramsay’s shows, the Food Network, and even the wildly popular FX series “The Bear,” or maybe the 2015 movie “Burnt” starring Bradley Cooper.

You may have also heard from Facebook, Instagram, or X that on Oct. 30, Filipino restaurants will be awarded Michelin stars for the very first time in the country’s culinary history (though the Chicago-based, Filipino-owned Kasama received one in 2022).  Selections took place starting last February in Metro Manila, Pampanga, Tagaytay, Cavite, and Cebu, or the “Manila and Environs & Cebu.”

So what? For an international award that has existed for over a century, and for our food already being known across the globe for quite a while now, it’s already high time to give the Philippine culinary industry the tangible recognition it deserves beyond word of mouth and especially foreign documentary fodder.

Yet this award that has branded France, Japan, Italy, Germany, Spain, the United States, and the United Kingdom as culinary capitals remains relatively unknown to Filipinos.

Here are some things you need to know about the Michelin stars.

The Michelin stars are awarded by The Michelin Guide, which was created in 1900 by the French tire company called Michelin “to support the growth of automobile mobility.”

The Michelin Guide is awarding Michelin stars to Philippine restaurants on Oct. 30, the first in the country’s culinary history.

The guide contained handy information about maps, tire repair and replacement instructions, car mechanic listings, gas stations, hotels, and restaurants throughout the country. It would soon have a growing influence on the restaurant section, prompting the company to hire so-called Michelin inspectors to review restaurants anonymously.

Since then, the Michelin Guide has become an authority in the global culinary industry, having rated over 40,000 establishments in over 24 territories across three continents as part of its mission “to settle in mature gastronomic destinations, to guide international travelers and local food lovers to the best restaurants, to highlight world culinary scenes, and to promote travel culture.”

The Michelin has five universal criteria in its selection of restaurants, namely, the quality of the ingredients, the mastery of cooking techniques, the harmony of flavors, the personality of the cuisine, and the consistency both over time and through the menu as a whole.

The birth of stars

It has several recognitions, including the popular and coveted Michelin stars, which are “awarded to the restaurant offering the best culinary experiences.”

It has three tiers. One Michelin star is awarded to restaurants for “high-quality cooking that is worth a stop,” two Michelin stars for “excellent cooking that is worth a detour,” and three Michelin stars for “exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey.” A restaurant may lose its star on the next evaluation.

The Michelin Guide also awards the Bib Gourmand to recognize restaurants that “provide good quality food at a moderate price,” the Plate for restaurants with “simply good food”; and the Green Star for excellence in “sustainable gastronomy.”

The Michelin brothers Edouard (left) and Andre (right), the founders of the tire company behind The Michelin Guide, which recognizes restaurants worldwide.

On its website, the Michelin Guide assures everyone that it’s “committed to maintaining the highest global standards in its restaurant selection process.”

“Our team of anonymous, experienced, and expert inspectors conduct continuous and rigorous evaluations of restaurants,” it says. “These evaluations are carried out objectively and independently, ensuring that external factors do not influence the results. This dedication to impartiality and excellence guarantees that only the outstanding dining establishments are recognized.”

After the Oct. 30 ceremony, which will be held at the Manila Marriott Hotel at Newport World Resorts, the Michelin Guide will be available in digital format on the website, mobile, and social networks.

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