The Unexpected Origin of the Michelin Star

Summary

In 1889, two French brothers, Andre and Eduard Michelin, who initially founded a tire company, expanded into a unique business venture: the Michelin Guide. With cars being scarce in France, they created a guide featuring the best hotels, mechanics, gas stations, and restaurants to encourage car sales. What started as a helpful resource for drivers evolved into a prestigious culinary guide. In 1926, Michelin introduced its star-rating system for restaurants, which has since become a global symbol of excellence in dining. Today, Michelin continues to sell millions of tires annually while also rating over 40,000 establishments across multiple continents.

Takeaways

• 😀 Michelin, originally a French tire company, is also known for publishing the prestigious Michelin Guide, a renowned restaurant and travel guide.
• 😀 The Michelin company was founded in 1889 by two French brothers, Andre and Edouard Michelin, who initially focused on making tires.
• 😀 In 1900, there were only about 3,000 cars in France, so the Michelin brothers sought ways to increase car ownership and, by extension, tire sales.
• 😀 To encourage car ownership, the brothers created a guide that included the best hotels, mechanics, gas stations, and restaurants across France.
• 😀 The Michelin Guide quickly grew in popularity, and versions were soon made for other countries, including Germany, Spain, and Northern Africa.
• 😀 While people appreciated the guide for finding nearby gas stations, its restaurant recommendations became the most beloved feature.
• 😀 Michelin introduced secret inspectors to review and rate restaurants, assessing them based on five criteria: quality of products, personality of the chef, value for money, consistency, and mastery of flavor.
• 😀 The Michelin star system was introduced in 1926, with three levels: one star for 'very good', two stars for 'excellent cooking', and three stars for 'exceptional cuisine'.
• 😀 Today, the Michelin Guide rates over 40,000 establishments across 24 countries and three continents.
• 😀 Michelin, now a major tire manufacturer, sells approximately 200 million tires annually, making it a global leader in both the tire industry and the world of fine dining.

Q & A

What was the original purpose of the Michelin Guide?

The original purpose of the Michelin Guide was to encourage people to buy cars—and therefore tires—by providing a free guide with information about the best hotels, mechanics, gas stations, and restaurants across France.

Why did the Michelin brothers create a guide for restaurants?

The Michelin brothers wanted to encourage car ownership and travel, and they realized that people would be more likely to use cars if they had a comprehensive guide for dining and travel needs, which included restaurants.

When did the Michelin Guide first start rating restaurants?

The Michelin Guide began rating restaurants in 1926, introducing the famous star system to recognize the quality of dining establishments.

How many stars are there in the Michelin star rating system, and what do they represent?

There are three stars in the Michelin rating system: one star indicates a very good restaurant, two stars signify excellent cooking, and three stars represent exceptional cuisine worth a special journey.

How does the Michelin Guide assess restaurants?

Restaurants are assessed by secret inspectors based on five criteria: quality of products, personality of the chef, value for money, consistency, and mastery of flavor and cooking technique.

How did the Michelin Guide expand after its initial success in France?

After its success in France, the Michelin Guide expanded to include editions for Germany, Spain, and Northern Africa, and later expanded further to include more countries around the world.

How many establishments does the Michelin Guide currently rate?

The Michelin Guide currently rates over 40,000 establishments across more than 24 countries and territories, spanning three continents.

How many tires does Michelin sell annually?

Michelin sells approximately 200 million tires every year, alongside its well-known restaurant guide.

What makes the Michelin Guide one of the most prestigious restaurant guides in the world?

The Michelin Guide's prestige comes from its rigorous and secretive review process, its long history, and its highly respected star rating system, which has become synonymous with fine dining excellence.

What was the main problem Michelin faced when starting their tire business?

The main problem Michelin faced was the limited number of cars in France at the time—only about 3,000—so the brothers needed to find a way to encourage car ownership and, by extension, tire sales.