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What are Michelin stars?
ORIGIN
Michelin Stars originally appeared as part of a guide for motorists. This guide was published by Michelin, a manufacturer of automobile tires. It contained information about road routes and places where travelers could stop and have a delicious meal. Over time, the guidebook became an integral part of the world’s gastronomic culture. The function of a road guide has been relegated to the background, and the restaurant component has gained new importance. The Michelin Guide today is the main source of information about the best restaurants in the world, and receiving a Michelin star has become the highest honor for any restaurateur.
What do they give stars for?
A mention of a restaurantin the guidebook is already an indication of the high quality of its cuisine.
If a restaurant has one MICHLEN star – a high honor indicating excellent quality cuisine.
Two stars are dishes that can be viewed as works of art.
Three stars – exceptional cuisine created by geniuses of their craft, most often great chefs.
Stars are awarded annually, and very sparingly. Over the course of a year, anonymous experts visit restaurants, evaluating only the cuisine. Such parameters as interior, service or price do not play a decisive role. Therefore, the main face of the establishment becomes the chef, whose skill depends on receiving the prestigious award. In Paris, more than 70 restaurants have Michelin stars, which makes it one of the leaders in the world gastronomy. By comparison, only two restaurants in Prague have Michelin stars.
In Paris you will find restaurants with three stars, where lunch or dinner will be a pleasure not only for your taste buds, but also for all the senses that a person has. But such pleasure costs a lot of money: the cost of a dinner starts from 250 euros, and sometimes even more.
Michelin Restaurant Guide
For French restaurants, the award is still very prestigious.This is evidenced by the fact that this year’s stars were awarded at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was presided over by the Minister himself, Laurent Fabius.
In France, it’s well known that Michelin guide is a great way to increase the attendance of an establishment. If a restaurant has at least one star, it is a great recommendation for visitors to come here.
When the reward is received, it will be immediately reflected in increased attendance and tables will become full for many weeks to come.
WHY THIS GUIDE HAS BECOME THE BENCHMARK FOR RESTAURANT CLASSIFICATION IN THE WORLD
At the beginning of the automotive era, Michelin, the tire company, created a restaurant guide. Over the years, thanks to its high standards and very strict anonymous testers, Michelin stars have become very prestigious.
Michelin stars are incredibly coveted. Receiving just one can change a chef’s life; losing one, however, can also change everything. A French chef, fearing only rumors that he might lose his third star, committed suicide. That’s what a star means to chefs.
The following restaurants in Paris have been awarded three Michelin stars:
- Alain Ducasse at the Plaza Athénée. This is probably one of the most exquisite restaurants in Paris. There is a uniquely beautiful chandelier decorated with ten thousand crystals. The restaurant is located near the Alma-Marceau metro station.
- L’Arpège – You can spend no more than 40 euros per person at this restaurant . You can find it near the Varenne metro station.
- Le Meurice – An establishment with Louis XIV decorations and mosaic flooring. The entire hotel is decorated in historical style, with a spa and terrace with a magnificent view of Paris, a short walk from the Tuileries stop.
- Hotel Le Bristol -. It is located next to boutiques such as Christian Lacroix, Azzaro, Salvatore Ferragamo, Givenchy and Dolce & Gabbana. Millionaires often choose this hotel for their vacations, so its restaurant is its pride. The hotel is located near the Miromesnil stop. Dinner for two will cost a thousand euros here. And yes, we weren’t wrong.
- Pierre Gagnard – Most starters start at 90 euros. The restaurant is located near the George V metro, close to the Arc de Triomphe next to the Champs Elysees in the Hotel Balzac.
PRINCIPLE OF EVALUATION
Evaluating restaurants – is not the easiest thing to do. Michelin employs many restaurant critics who visit 4,000 restaurants every 4 months to confirm their rating. This rating still only covers the biggest cities and the best restaurants.
Michelin establishments evaluate not only the food and cuisine, but also important associated spaces, such as the distance between tables or the cleanliness of the restroom.
Main Evaluation Criteria:
- Exceptional quality ingredients.
- Cooking Technique.
- Harmony of flavors.
- Consistency of standards (from dish to dish).
- The chef’s overall contribution to gastronomy.
Three stars means “exceptional food that is worth a visit to this restaurant,”while two of them mean “delicious food that is worth a visit if the opportunity arises”, and one star is given to a very good restaurant in its category.
Bib Gourmand award for affordable cuisine
Restaurant ratings are determined on several levels, the main and most important being the so-called Michelin stars, which are given to restaurants for their exceptional quality. The second most important criterion is “cutlery”, which in turn reflects the level and atmosphere of the restaurant. For example, the red color of the cutlery marks an exceptionally pleasant restaurant.
However, we will return to the positive meaning of these stars. Michelin awards are always distributed at the beginning of the year.
Another important award is the Bib Gourmand. It is also distributed annually by the Michelin brand, but with a focus on restaurants offering good food at an affordable price.
Since French culture is inextricably linked with gastronomy, a real trip to France and an introduction to the French way of life cannot do without visiting a few haute cuisine restaurants.
TOURS IN PARIS
If you are already a visitor to the French capital, we recommend a visit:
Five of the best Michelin restaurants in Paris
Five inexpensive restaurants in Paris
An excursion to the Loire Valley
Read also about the five best restaurants in Paris
according to Michelin:
- Pavillon Ledoyen.
- Le Cinq.
- La Tour d’Argent.
- Le Jules Verne.
- Les Fables de la Fontaine.
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Restaurants 3* MICHLEN
Le Meurice Alain Ducasse |
Creative French cuisine Closed: Sat/Sun |
228 rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris Tél : 01.44.58.10.55 www.lemeurice.com |
L’Ambroisie | Classic French cuisine Closed: Mon/Fri |
9 place des Vosges 75004 Paris Tél : 01.42.78.51.45 www.ambroisie-placedesvosges.com |
Arpège | Creative French cuisine Closed: Sat/Sun |
84 rue de Varenne 75007 Paris Tél : 01.45.51.47.33 www.alain-passard.com |
Plaza Athénée | Gastronomic cuisine Closed: Tues/Wed lunch, Sat/Fri. |
25 avenue Montaigne 75008 Paris Tél : 01.53.67.65.00 www.alain-ducasse.com |
Le Bristol (Epicure) | Gastronomic cuisine 7/7 |
112 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré 75008 Paris Tél : 01.53.43.43.43.00 www.lebristolparis.com |
Ledoyen | Gastronomic cuisine Closed: Mon-Fri, Sat/Fri |
1 avenue Dutuit 75008 Paris Tél : 01.53.05.10.01 www.ledoyen.com |
Pierre Gagnaire | Gastronomic cuisine Closed: Sat/Sun lunch |
6 rue Balzac 75008 Paris Tél : 01.58.36.12.50 www.pierre-gagnaire.com |
Astrance | Creative French cuisine Closed: Sat/Fri/Fri |
4 rue Beethoven 75016 Paris Tél : 01.40.50.84.40 |
Le Pré Catelan | Creative French cuisine Closed: Mon/Fri |
route de Suresnes 75016 Paris Tél : 01.44.14.41.14 www.precatelanparis.com |
Guy Savoy | Creative French cuisine Closed: Sat lunch, Sun/Fri |
18 rue Troyon 75017 Paris Tél : 01.43.80.40.61 www.guysavoy.com |
Restaurants 2* Mischlen
Le Carré des Feuillants | Gastronomic cuisine Closed: Sat/Fri |
14 rue de Castiglione 75001 Paris Tél : 01.42.86.82.82 www.carredesfeuillants.fr |
Le Grand Véfour | Creative French cuisine. Closed: Fri/Wednesday/Sat/Sun |
17 rue de Beaujolais 75001 Paris Tél : 01.42.96.56.27 www.grand-vefour.com |
L’Espadon (Ritz Hotel) |
Classic French cuisine 7/7 |
15 place Vendôme 75001 Paris Tél : 01.43.16.30.80 www.ritzparis.com |
Sur Mesure (hotel Le Mandarin Oriental) |
Gastronomic cuisine 7/7 |
251 rue Saint-Honoré 75001 Paris Tél : 01.70.98.78.88 www.mandarinoriental.fr |
L’Ambroisie | Classic French cuisine Closed: Mon/Fri |
9 place des Vosges 75004 Paris Tél : 01.42.78.51.45 www.ambroisie-placedesvosges.com |
Relais Louis XIII | Classic French cuisine Closed: Mon-Fri |
8 rue des Grands-Augustins 75006 Paris Tél : 01.43.26.75.96 www.relaislouis13.com |
Apicius | Gastronomic cuisine 7/7 |
20 rue d’Artois 75008 Paris Tél : 01.43.80.19.66 www.restaurant-apicius.com |
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon – Etoile | Classic French cuisine 7/7 |
133 avenue des Champs-Elysées 75008 Paris Tél : 01.47.23.75.75 www.robuchon.com |
Le Cinq (hôtel George V) |
Gastronomic cuisine 7/7 |
31 avenue George-V 75008 Paris Tél : 01.49.52.71.54 www.fourseasons.com |
Lasserre | Gastronomic Cuisine Closed: Tues lunch/Wed lunch/Sat lunch/Sat lunch/Wed lunch/Even lunch |
17 avenue Franklin-Delano-Roosevelt 75008 Paris Tél : 01.43.59.53.43 www.restaurant-lasserre.com |
Senderens | Gastronomic cuisine 7/7 |
9 place de la Madeleine 75008 Paris Tél : 01.42.65.22.90 www.senderens.fr |
Bigarrade | Creative French cuisine. Closed: Sat/Fri/Fri |
106 rue Nollet 75017 Paris Tél : 01.42.26.01.02 www.bigarrade.fr |
Michel Rostang | Classic French cuisine Closed: Sat lunch/Fri lunch/Fri dinner |
20 rue Rennequin 75017 Paris Tél : 01.47.63.40.77 www.michelrostang.com |
Restaurants 1* MICHLEN
Le Baudelaire (hotel Le Burgundy) |
Creative French cuisine. 7/7 |
6-8 rue Duphot 75001 Paris Tél : 01.42.60.34.12 www.leburgundy.com |
Le Céladon | Creative French cuisine. Closed: Sat/Sun |
15 rue Daunou 75002 Paris Tél : 01.42.61.77.42 www.leceladon.com |
La Tour d’Argent | Classic French cuisine Closed: Mon/Fri |
5 quai de la Tournelle 75005 Paris Tél : 01.43.54.23.31 www.latourdargent.com |
La Truffière | Creative French cuisine. Closed: Mon/Fri |
4 rue Blainville 75005 Paris Tél : 01.46.33.29.82 www.la-truffiere.fr |
Hélène Darroze | Creative French cuisine. 7/7 |
4 rue d’Assas 75006 Paris Tél : 01.42.22.00.11 www.helenedarroze.com |
Le Divellec | Seafood Closed: Sat/Fri |
107 rue de l’Université 75007 Paris Tél : 01.45.51.91.96 www.le-divellec.com |
Les Fables de La Fontaine | Seafood 7/7 |
131 rue Saint-Dominique 75007 Paris Tél : 01.44.18.37.55 www.lesfablesdelafontaine.net |
Le Jules Verne | Creative French cuisine. 7/7 |
5 avenue Gustave-Eiffel 75007 Paris Tél : 01.45.55.61.44 www.lejulesverne-paris.com |
Lasserre | Gastronomic cuisine Closed: Tues Lunch/Wed Lunch/Sat Lunch/Sat Lunch/Sat/Fri. |
17 avenue Franklin-Delano-Roosevelt 75008 Paris Tél : 01.43.59.53.43 www.restaurant-lasserre.com |
La Table du Lancaster (hotel Lancaster) | Gastronomic cuisine Closed: Sat lunchtime |
7 rue de Berri 75008 Paris Tél : 01.40.76.40.18 www.hotel-lancaster.fr |
Laurent | Gastronomic cuisine Closed: Sat lunch/ Sun |
41 avenue Gabriel 75008 Paris Tél : 01.42.25.00.39 www.le-laurent.com |
Diane (hotel Fouquet’s Barrière) |
Gastronomic cuisine Closed: Sat lunch/ Sun/Fri. |
46 avenue George-V 75008 Paris Tél : 01.40.69.60.60 www.lucienbarriere.com |
Ze Kitchen Galerie | Fusion cuisine Closed: Sat Lunch/Sun |
4 rue des Grands-Augustins 75006 Paris Tél : 01.44.32.00.32 www.zekitchengalerie.fr |
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