The esteemed Michelin Guide has recently announced its forthcoming arrival in Texas, making it the 11th location in North America to be featured in the renowned guides. This news has generated a great deal of excitement within the culinary community in the Lone Star State, as anonymous guide inspectors are currently conducting thorough evaluations of exceptional culinary establishments.
The highly anticipated inaugural restaurant selections will be unveiled later this year during the 2024 Texas Michelin Guide Ceremony. Earning a star, or even being featured in the guide, is a challenging achievement. Anonymous inspectors make multiple visits to restaurants to assess their worthiness of the iconic Michelin Stars – one, two, or three. These stars are granted based on five universal criteria: the quality of ingredients, the balance of flavours, mastery of culinary techniques, the chef’s individual creativity and personality evident in their cuisine, and consistency across visits and throughout the menu.
Across the entire United States, there are currently only 13 restaurants honoured with three Michelin stars, including Per Se, Le Bernardin, Eleven Madison Park, and Masa in New York City. Other notable establishments include Alinea in Chicago and The French Laundry in Yountville, California.
RJ Yoakum, the chef at Georgie, has expressed his enthusiasm regarding the Michelin Guide’s debut in Texas, stating that it will raise the standard of the culinary scene across the state. Despite the buzz surrounding Michelin stars, Yoakum emphasises that they do not solely determine the quality of a restaurant or its cuisine, as there are numerous outstanding restaurants that have not been honoured with any stars.
Originally published in France by the Michelin tyre company around 1900, the Michelin Guide was initially intended to encourage French drivers to explore restaurants. Fast forward to 2005, it made its official North American debut in New York City, followed by Chicago in 2011, D.C. in 2017, San Francisco in 2008, and all of California in 2019. The guide expanded to Vancouver, Toronto, and Florida in 2022, Atlanta in 2023, and Mexico City alongside Texas in 2024.
The inaugural Texas Michelin Guide is expected to encompass culinary hotspots in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, showcasing the state’s rich and diverse culinary landscape. Gwendal Poullennec, the international director of the Michelin Guides, has expressed his enthusiasm for the Texas edition, highlighting the vibrant culinary scene that embodies multicultural influences, locally sourced ingredients, and a wealth of culinary talent.
In addition to the coveted Michelin Stars, the guide also features other accolades such as Bib Gourmand, which recognises restaurants offering excellent quality food at reasonable prices, and the Michelin Green Star, awarded to leaders in sustainable gastronomy.
In anticipation of this significant occasion, Bruno Davaillon, a chef with previous experience at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Las Vegas, predicted that Texas would soon be added to the guide in North America. His foresight has now become a reality, further solidifying Texas as a prominent dining destination in the country.
The impending arrival of the Michelin Guide in Texas has not only sparked anticipation among culinary professionals but also ignited the enthusiasm of food enthusiasts and travellers eagerly awaiting the opportunity to explore the diverse and bountiful dining offerings in the Lone Star State.