Michelin Restaurant Promotion

The centennial issue of the MICHELIN guide was launched on March 5, 2009.

When it first came out in 1900, the MICHELIN guide France made no mention of restaurants or even hotels. It was above all a guide for motorists who could pick up their free copy in garages and tire dealers. The book contained a wealth of practical information to make traveling more pleasant.

It wasn't until 1920 that the first restaurants—and Parisian hotels—made their debut in the guide. At the time, the restaurants had their own "star-less" rating system. Today, the MICHELIN guide is the reference for gourmet dining.

Recently, new symbols indicate the possibility of reserving a non-smoking room or table, the availability of Wi Fi in the establishment, or access to a spa.
Today, some 1.2 million Michelin guides are sold in the world every year. The centennial issue of the MICHELIN guide France was launched on March 5, 2009.

In celebration of this event, Michelin is declaring March 9 to April 5 Le Mois Gourmand (Gourmet Month). Over 900 restaurants featured in the 2009 issue will be proposing special offers.

"Centennial edition" offers will be proposed by starred restaurateurs featured in the 2009 MICHELIN guide: special menus that are affordably priced, workshops with chefs, guided tours of wine cellars with tastings, dinners in the restaurant's kitchen with explanations from the chef… are just a taste of the activities proposed throughout the event.

Today's most highly decorated chefs are French. Joël Robuchon has 25 stars under his belt for his twelve establishments around the world. Hot on his heels, Alain Ducasse holds 18 distinctions for thirteen restaurants. Brit Gordon Ramsay follows with 10 stars for seven establishments. Two Americans—Thomas Keller (7 stars for three restaurants) and Jean Georges (5 stars for three restaurants)—complete the top five.

The Guide proposes a selection of 8 500 establishments with some 550 restaurants being awarded stars: 26 with three stars (the only newcomer being Eric Fréchon of Paris's Le Bristol), 73 with two stars and 449 with one star.

Nine restaurants were promoted to the two-star rank: l'Atelier de Jean-Luc Rabanel in Arles (Bouches-du-Rhône), le Saint-James in Bouliac (Gironde), Guy Lassausaie in Chasselay (Rhône), La Mère Brazier in Lyon (Rhône) , L'Espadon de Michel Roth au Ritz in Paris (1st arrondissement), Le Castellas in Collias (Gard), Le Casadelmar in Porto Vecchio (Corsica), Le Faventia in Tourrettes (Var) et the famous british Gordon Ramsay at Trianon in Versailles (Yvelines).

Moreover, 63 restaurants have won their first star, including Le Prieuré in Ambierle (Loire), Les Rosiers in Biarritz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), La Poularde in la Chapelle-sous-Guinchay (Saône-et-Loire), Le Fogon in Paris (6th arrondissement), Le Jules Verne in the Tower-Eiffel that was bought by Alain Ducasse in 2008 (7th arrondissement), L'Arôme in Paris (8th arrondissement), L'Agapé in Paris (17th arrondissement), La Bigarrade in Paris (17th arrondissement).

This article was published by Maison de La France Canada.