Guide Michelin

See also: Michelin (homonymy)

The Guide Michelin is the generic name of a series of guides published annually by Michelin for a dozen different countries. More particularly, the expression indicates the red guide of the Michelin, oldest and most famous of the gastronomical guides European. the red guide is that in which stars Michelin are allotted.

History

The first of the Michelin guides was created in 1900 by André Michelin and was at this time an advertizing guide, offered with the pneumatic purchase of S. the France account then: 2400 drivers, and the guide contains invaluable information for the pioneers of the Automobile: list rare mechanics, Médecin S, plan of some Ville S and list of curiosities.

Starting from 1920, the guide any more is not given, but is sold (the legend says that Mr. Michelin had seen in a garage a pile of guides used as fixes for an axle). N the other hand, the Restaurant S appear, information being provided by the customers of Michelin as well as the first anonymous inspectors. This addition of the restaurants increases the number of pages, therefore the price of the guide. Nevertheless the indications " deserve a détour" or " the voyage" is worth; must in good logic incite the motorists to consume tire.

On the other hand, the reception is catastrophic, little of inclined people being to pay what they always received free. Finding itself with thousands of unsold goods, Michelin makes them distribute free to the schools in order to reward the pupils more deserving at the time of the Prize giving. The operation appears excellent in term of image by thus developing the guide, which as of the following year will find purchasers.

In 1926, the macaroon appears to indicate the best restaurants, and in 1931, the classification into 1,2 and 3 macaroons. 1926 will be also the year of the creation of the regional Guide Michelin, the first tourist guide Michelin. It should be noted that " étoiles" red guide (Michelin) do not exist, the guide allots to good food des" macarons" , that in order to distinguish them from the prefectoral stars which classify the hotels. Other macaroons, like intersected covers, announce good food at prices in general more accessible.

In 1944 the Allied Staff fears that the progression of the troops after the unloading of Normandy is not slowed down on the roads and especially in the French cities, because any indication there was destroyed or dismounted by the German occupant. With the secret agreement of the direction of Michelin to Paris, it chooses to make print in Washington and distribute to each officer a reproduction of the last edition of the Guide, that of 1939, because comprising hundreds of plans of cities, detailed and brought up to date.

In 1998, appears the Bib Gourmand , which rewards a looked after meal at moderate price.

With time, the number of products offered by the Michelin guides was packed.

Gastronomical guides

the red guide

It is the Michelin guide of reference, devoted to lodgings, Hôtel S and of Restaurant S.

In 2006, 12 red guides list more: 45000 Hotel S and Restaurant S in all the Europe and with New York (since 2006). the red guide for the France was sold to a few 30 million specimens since its creation, and draws with: 500000 copies every year. the red guide exists for France, the Benelux, the Italy, the Germany, the Spain and the Portugal, the Suisse, the the United Kingdom and the Ireland and the “ Main cities of Europe ”.

See also: List of the spangled restaurants by the Guide Michelin

greedy guides

Selection of Restaurant S typical, only published for the areas of France.

Tourist guides

the green guide

The green guide is a tourist guide which concentrates on the discovery of the inheritance natural and cultural by area. It is published for all the areas of France and for the majority of the areas of Europe. Recently an area presented does not take account of the borders it is thus for the Pays Basque.

The green guide counts the titles according to:

To travel practical

Tourist new ranges of guides, which replaces the collection Neos , the purpose of it is to be more practical for the individual travellers. In 2007 leaves the Japan guide, a first which results from a partnership between Japan and Michelin.

Guide escapade - Europe

Guide of voyage concentrating on short the stays in the big cities of Europe. The guide has the pocket format.

Critical

Today, the red guide Michelin is one of the gastronomical guides the most famous, and thus most criticized. It has such a capacity of influence that the granting of a star would mean for the elected official notable increase in frequentation, and if it wishes it his prices, but also of the pressure. Thus, some chiefs openly refuse to play the game and do not want to receive stars.

In addition, of the incidents enamelled certain publications. Thus in 2005, restoring it Ostend Queen , installed in the Casino Kursaal of Ostend, received two forks and a Bib Gourmand , whereas the restaurant was not yet open. After having admitted to be itself based exclusively on the reputation of Pierre Wynants (chief of the As at home , a three stars ), godfather of the restaurant, Michelin Belgium withdrew the guide of the bookstores.

More basically, one criticizes conservatism and the Free-centrism of the guide. The second reproach is melted in fact in the first, the reproach basically is that the guide remains too much attached to a traditional kitchen, whereas the world of the gastronomy evolves/moves. Contrary, some reproach the Michelin for having granted three stars the Spanish chief Ferran Adrià. The Michelin is thus confronted with the same phenomenon of evolution and resistances to the evolution that the gastronomy, as well in-house as at its readers.

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