A Brief History of the Elusive Michelin Star

Food
Photo by Wesual Click on Unsplash

A chef and restaurant owner in Chicago, Jacob “Jake” Bickelhaupt is known for his emphasis on technique when creating complex dishes. Jacob Bickelhaupt has received distinction as the best chef in the Great Lakes Region from the James Beard Foundation, and has also received two Michelin Stars.

The Michelin Star is a rating system formed and popularized by two French brothers, André and Édouard Michelin, after creating the Michelin Guide in 1889. The Michelin Guide was intended to increase demand for cars and travel (and, as a result, the sale of tires). In 1926, the Michelin brothers began to send anonymous reviewers to try and rate restaurants. In 1931, the three-star rating system for fine dining was officially introduced.

For the past century, the Michelin Star has become a hallmark of fine dining quality, and a coveted award for the world’s most talented chefs. British celebrity and chef Gordon Ramsay is said to have cried when his restaurant, The London, was stripped of its two Michelin Stars in 2013. The Michelin Guide is present in 24 countries, and plans to expand and review restaurants in new cities and countries.