In the world of restaurants, being rewarded a Michelin star is a matter of great celebration. However, the history and origin of the Michelin star ratings don't coincide with food or restaurants. It's all about travel, automobiles, and tyres!

　　Over the years the process of rewarding these stars has become a secret project where an anonymous Michelin inspector is out on a mission to create long reports about shortlisted restaurants. There are about 2,600 such restaurants across the world, some awarded a single Michelin star, some two, and some even three, the highest. While the process of evaluation is quickly becoming a known recipe, the Michelin star ratings' origin story and history is largely a guarded secret. Outlook Traveller uncovers the cloche to dig in deeper.

　　History And Origin Of Michelin-Star Rating System

　　The history and origin of Michelin star ratings had nothing to do with restaurants or dining, but was instead related to automobiles. In 1900, the founders of Michelin Tyre and French industrialist brothers Andre and Edouard Michelin compiled the first Michelin Guide, a travel guide, with the aim to create a demand for more automobiles and thus, more Michelin tyres.

　　Initially the guide included maps, instructions to repair and change tyres, and also a list of restaurants, hotels, and mechanics that could act as a pitstop for many. Eventually, they got rid of their tyre advertising and only started listing down hotels and restaurants while also recruiting anonymous reviewers who would review food.

　　It was only in 1926, that they started awarding Michelin stars to the restaurants. Back then, “fine-dining" restaurants in France were awarded a single star. It was later expanded to a three-star rating in 1931.

　　It wasn't until 2005 that the rating system expanded to the United States of America. Today, it covers 37 countries around the world across Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.

　　How Is A Michelin Star Awarded?

　　The process of receiving a Michelin star is rather interesting. According to 2020 data, there are around 2,651 restaurants worldwide that have earned Michelin stars. Out of these, 2,160 have one star, 385 with two stars, and 106 with three stars.

　　The process of awarding a Michelin star begins with the Michelin Guide team shortlisting restaurants in a particular area. Michelin inspectors are sent out anonymously to dine at the restaurants during various different seasons and times. Whether it is for breakfast, lunch, or dinner or over the weekend, they visit and prepare a long report about the overall culinary experience—including the plating and flavours of the dishes.

　　This is then discussed among various Michelin inspectors who take a call about how many stars are to be granted to which restaurant, if at all. While a three-Michelin-star restaurant is much above a one starrer, the latter is much appreciated and celebrated, too.

　　Five Best Michelin-Star Restaurants Around The World

　　Per Se, United States of America

　　This magnificent three-Michelin-starred restaurant is situated in the heart of New York City at the Time Warner Building. Offering picturesque views of the NYC skyline, the restaurant is headed by Chef Thomas Keller who also owns two other Michelin Star restaurants.

　　With special tasting menus curated every single day, not even a single ingredient is repeated in these meals.

　　Address: 10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10019, USA

　　The Fat Duck Restaurant, United Kingdom

　　Chef Heston Bluementhal’s unique culinary technique brought this restaurant much popularity. These include multi-sensory cooking, food pairing, and flavour encapsulation. The restaurant started three decades ago in 1995 in a 16th century cottage that was revamped to offer a lovely dining experience.

　　Their popular 14-course menu features great dishes plated in the best way possible. The turtle soup and sounds of the sea are the chef’s most famous dishes.

　　Address: High St, Bray, Maidenhead SL6 2AQ, United Kingdom

　　The Song Of India, Singapore

　　While India still awaits its first Michelin-starred restaurant, the cuisine served overseas by Indian chefs has not missed these highly celebrated stars. The Song of India in Singapore is helmed by Chef Mural Manjunath. It serves Indian cuisine in a classy ambience.

　　Address: 33 Scotts Road, Newton, Singapore

　　Osteria Francescana Restaurant, Italy

　　Run by the author of the International bestseller “Never Trust a Skinny Chef,” Chef Massimo Bottura, Osteria Francescana in Italy is a gourmand's bucketlist restaurant. Chef Bottura curates Italian dishes with a contemporary twist. Their Rabbit Macaroons and the Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano are crowd favourites. So much so that the restaurant is considered by many as one of the best Michelin-starred restaurants in the world.

　　Address: Via Stella 22, 41121 Modena, Italy

　　Cheval Blanc, Switzerland

　　Out of the top Michelin restaurants in the world, three are located in Switzerland. One of these coveted spaces is Cheval Blanc.

　　Situated in Basel, one of the most populous cities of the country, Cheval Blanc is an elegant riverside restaurant that is perfect for a sophisticated dinner. It was awarded the Michelin star in 2016 under the command of Chef Peter Knoll.

　　Address: Blumenrain 8, 4001 Basel, Switzerland