The Michelin Guide is coming to Texas. Why Fort Worth restaurants could receive stars
For the first time in history, restaurants in Texas have the chance to earn Michelin stars.
Fort Worth, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston are the five cities that are on the 2024 Michelin Guide tour. By the end of this year, a list of restaurants worthy of a Michelin star (or two or three) will be awarded.
“The Texas culinary scene has proven to be an exhilarating one, with multicultural influences, homegrown ingredients and talent that is rich in ambition,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides, “Foodies and travel enthusiasts alike will find something to enjoy, with such a broad dining scene spanning farm-to-table dishes, fusion cuisine, upscale dining and the famous Texas-style barbecue.”
The first-ever North American Michelin guide published in New York. Within the past few years, it has expanded to Florida, Atlanta, and Colorado. And, of course, it covers other major cities like Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago, and Toronto, Canada. Most recently, Mexico was awarded its first Michelin guide in May.
Texas’ guide will be set up similarly to Florida’s and Colorado’s, focusing on major cities rather than the state’s restaurant scene as a whole.
Texas’ Michelin Guide
Michelin guides normally begin when the local tourism boards pay them to come. In this case, Travel Texas has bought in. Michelin inspectors are anonymous and visit multiple times, meaning chefs must always be on their best game.
Eater Houston says, “Though the guide has been known to largely recognize European and Japanese fine dining restaurants, the Michelin team has already given a nod to Texas barbecue in its press release, and Texans may hope that the state’s most resonant cuisines, like Tex-Mex, will be reflected in the guide.”
Restaurants can be awarded up to three Michelin stars based on these factors: “quality of the ingredients used, mastery of flavor and cooking techniques, the personality of the chef in his cuisine, value for money and consistency between visits.”
According to Michelin’s guide, if a restaurant receives zero stars, it does not make the list. One star means the restaurant is “high-quality cooking, worth a stop.” Two stars mean “excellent cooking, worth a detour.” Three stars is the highest honor representing, “Exceptional cuisine, worthy of a special journey.”
By the end of this year, hopefully, Fort Worth will land a restaurant on the Texas guide. Michelin will also release a Texas hotel guide, highlighting hotels of all price ranges for their style, service and personality.
About Michelin Tire Co.
The Michelin guide began in France in the 1920s when the tire company wanted to encourage drivers to cruise around. Of course, Paris was the first city to get a restaurant and hotel guide.
The Michelin brothers and anonymous inspectors then published the three-star guide in 1936.
“The guide now rates over 40,000 establishments in over 24 territories across three continents, and more than 30 million MICHELIN Guides have been sold worldwide since,” according to Michelin.
This story was originally published July 16, 2024 at 11:58 AM.