WASHINGTON — The prestigious Michelin Guide is coming to the District.
The Michelin Guide is world-renowned for its excellent reviews, and its exclusive Michelin stars are highly desired in the restaurant industry. A single Michelin star means the restaurant is very good, three stars mean it is superb.
“Washington is, of course, an exciting dining destination,” said Michael Ellis, international director of the Michelin Guide. “I think the fact that we are here today means that Washington can hold its own against any city in the United States.”
The announcement, which was made Tuesday morning, means that D.C. becomes the fourth American city in the world to have Michelin guides and joins New York, Chicago and San Francisco.
The D.C. guide will be released Oct. 13.
“Washington has always had a strong food culture,” Ellis said. “People like to eat, they like to go out, they like to have fun. Washington has really evolved into a fine dining destination over the past few years.”
The Michelin Guide became the standard in Europe for identifying the best-of-the-best establishments. With the Michelin Guide’s mission being to promote travel, it is expected to have a sizable positive impact on the District.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Bowser said more than 19 million people from around the world visited D.C. last year.
“It’s always good for us to highlight what’s going on in D.C. and to highlight the great food scene,” Bowser said. “This guide is going to be important.”
For people who are not involved in the food scene, the Michelin name is probably still a familiar one.
The Michelin Guide was developed by the Michelin tire company in 1900 as a way to encourage French tourists to drive to destinations they recommended within the guide. It was hoped that more traveling would lead to more tire sales.
“The Michelin Guide gives a spotlight onto what we consider the best establishments in a given location,” Ellis said. “We have a worldwide following of people who are interested in Michelin and what we have to say.”
Also, it helps with bragging rights.
“It tells the world what we know: that we have great restaurants and this is a place they should visit,” Bowser said.
