Who Are The People Who Choose Michelin Stars?

Michelin stars are only awarded to the best of the culinary world. Per the Michelin Guide, the determination of these stars comes down to "the quality of the ingredients, the harmony of flavors, the mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine and, just as importantly, consistency both across the entire menu and over time." Per Fine Dining Lovers, establishments can be rewarded with one to three stars, one indicating a good restaurant in general, two denoting restaurants that warrant a detour, and three meaning that diners should consider a pilgrimage if only to visit the eatery while in town.

Via Fine Dining Lovers, French Chef Alain Ducasse has 20 Michelin stars, making him the most rewarded chef in the world. In total, he owns 36 restaurants, and as of 2005, he had three restaurants in three cities with three Michelin stars. The chef is from France, which is no surprise; per World Population Review, it's the country with the most Michelin-star-rewarded restaurants. Landing this award is a huge accomplishment, so who is responsible for gifting such an honor?

According to the Michelin Guide, the task of awarding restaurants with Michelin stars falls on a group of anonymous inspectors. These inspectors are required to visit the establishment for numerous seasons and as many times as it takes to get a good feel of the menu. The decision is made unanimously based on food rather than service, restaurant style, or any other method. Inspectors must adhere to a specific set of morals — they must remain secretive, independently pay for their own meal, possess knowledge of the hospitality world, have a passion for food, remain reliable, and produce high quality choices.

In 2020, Forbes conducted an interview with one Michelin-star inspector, who remained unnamed throughout the discussion. In the talk, the inspector revealed just how much work falls on their hands. "Inspectors travel up to three weeks in a month and eat out up to 10 meals a week," they said. They also share that appearing on the Michelin Guide doesn't necessarily mean the restaurant has a star. "Worldwide, the Michelin Guide includes about 15,000 restaurants in 32 selections, but only about 10% are recognized with stars," they said. So, what if you want to become an inspector? Apparently, it's going to take its fair share of work. "The training is extensive ... The training occurred in my home market with the local team, but also included time spent with senior inspectors in France and the U.K.," the inspector admitted.