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The Non-French Connection |
The 2006 Michelin Stars Adventure |
French Michelin-Star Restaurants |
The Michelin Guide usually refers to the famous "red guide" that grades restaurants in France and a few other selected non-French cities around the world. Being assigned a Michelin star (or two or three) can result in elation, celebration and wealth. The loss of a "star" brings the opposite, and has had dire consequences. For a bit more history, look at page-2 "Michelin Guide History".
The Non-French Connection
The French edition of the Michelin Red Guide, the most revered and the most feared of the world famous restaurant guides, is controlled by a woman — a very non-French German woman.
In December 2008, Juliane Caspar from Bochum in western Germany was appointed as the new editor-in-chief of the French version of "the guide". Her job is to co-ordinate the Red Guide's team of anonymous inspectors in France with the goal of assigning, re-grading and removing the coveted Michelin stars.
The 2006 Michelin Stars Adventure
The 2006 Michelin Guide (for France) comes out on the first of March. The news, though, precedes the official date by about a week, and the news for 2006 is the addition of a third star for the Maisons de Bricourt (chef Olivier Roellinger) at Cancale [map, SE], and the loss of another star Paris' famous Tour d'Argent, now a 1-star restaurant.
Still 26 three-star restaurants in 2006, and 70 two-star establishments. The number of one-star restaurants has increased from 402 to 425.
Paris' Lucas Carton (chef Alain Senderens) has moved from three to two stars, as the restaurant was changed to a simpler and less-expensive establishment.
Paris' La Table (chef Joël Robuchon) gained a second star.
Chef Didier Anies' La Coupole in Monte-Carlo [map] obtained its first star, as did his Alelier in Paris, a new style of dining around the bar.
A first star was awarded to L'Hostellerie de l'Abbaye de La Celle in La Celle, one of 13 "star" restaurants run by Alain Ducasse.
Four restaurants obtaining two stars are Chez Ruffet at Jurançon (a suburb of Pau in the Pyrénées [map]), Le Château de Beaulieu at Béthune (near Lille [map]), La Bastide de Capelongue at Bonnieux, and Le Flocon de Sel at Megeve (in the Alps near Mont Blanc [map]).
French Michelin-Star Restaurants
3-Star Restaurants
"Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey" ("Une des meilleures tables, vaut le voyage").
In 1995, there were 20 3-star restaurants in France.
2-Star Restaurants
"Excellent cooking, worth a detour" ("Table excellente, mérite un détour").
In 1995, there were 77 2-star restaurants in France.
1-Star Restaurants
"A very good restaurant in its category" ("Une très bonne table dans sa catégorie").
In 1995, there were 445 1-star restaurants in France.
Bib Gourmand Restaurants
"Good meals at moderate prices". This sub-star category was started in the 1950s. The name "Bib" is not a reflection on needing to protect your front from messy eating, but "Bibendum", Michelin's Michelin-Man logo.
Sources:
Partial Sources:
• Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/) has good background information.
• Andy Hayler (://www.homestead.com/andyhayler/) has food writer's perspective of the Michelin Guide, with related info on other (non France) countries.
1 - L'inspecteur se met à table, Rémy Pascal, 2004, Equateur, ISBN 2849900060.
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