Restaurants in Houston and four other Texas cities are being reviewed by The Michelin Guide, a prestigious culinary rating system that later this year will announce its first-ever selections for the Lone Star State.
The French tire company announced Tuesday it is expanding its Michelin Guide through a partnership with Travel Texas and the marketing organizations for Houston, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio. The Michelin Guide started in France in 1900 as a way to promote tourism in Europe and also to boost vehicle travel and by extension tire sales, and there now are restaurant guide books published in seven other cities or states in the U.S. and a total of 10 markets in North America.
Having a restaurant receive one, two or three Michelin stars would instantly elevate its status in the city, which is known for its Tex-Mex, barbecue, Cajun cuisine and Vietnamese food, among other food genres.
“In Houston, our tremendous cultural diversity has produced one of the nation’s most acclaimed and dynamic food scenes, with more than 11,000 restaurants serving over 80 different types of cuisine from around the globe,” said Michael Heckman, president and CEO of the Houston First Corporation. “Our innovative chefs, astute restaurateurs and welcoming hospitality folks now have a new way of earning the spotlight. We’re proud to have helped bring Michelin Guide to Texas.”
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Houston First is the sales and marketing arm of the city government. It is paying Michelin $90,000 per year for a three-year period in order to have Houston restaurants included in the annual guide, according to a Houston First spokesperson.
The total cost of the Texas-wide deal was not disclosed by Michelin, which said in a news release that its “selections process remains completely independent” of the financial arrangement.
Michelin Guide inspectors already have been making anonymous visits to restaurants in the aforementioned Texas cities, according to the company, which said 2024 Texas restaurant selections will be released later this year along with hotel selections for the state.
Outstanding restaurants can be awarded one, two or three stars based on five criteria: the quality of their products; the harmony of their flavors; the mastery of their cooking techniques; the voice and personality of their chefs as reflected in the cuisine; and consistency between visits and also throughout their menus.
The Michelin Guide also issues Bib Gourmand distinctions that recognize “friendly establishments that serve good food at moderate prices,” according to its website. Houston First said the Texas guide also will note some dining establishments as “recommended.”
“The Texas culinary scene has proven to be an exhilarating one, with multicultural influences, homegrown ingredients and talent that is rich in ambition,” Gwendal Poullennec, the international director of The Michelin Guide, said in a statement. “Foodies and travel enthusiasts alike will find something to enjoy, with such a broad dining scene spanning from farm-to-table dishes, fusion cuisine, upscale dining and the famous Texas-style barbecue. Texas is a perfect fit for The Michelin Guide, based on the experiences of our anonymous inspectors.”
