Find Fabulous Food with a Free Michelin Guide

Since eating and drinking provide some of the greatest joys of traveling, we thought we would let you know how we select some of the places we eat and drink while moving around.

Nunc est Bibendum (now is the time to drink) – Horace

Bibendum (“Bib” to his friends) is the name of The Michelin Man. You know, that puffy white dude you see in the Michelin Tire ads. Bib has been a company icon since 1894. The quote is a fitting segue from travel to food.

The Michelin Guide

Originally published in 1900, The Michelin Guide was created to provide information about various driving destinations and thereby increase demand for cars and tires. The free, small red guide was filled with handy information for travelers, such as maps, information on how to change a tire, where to fill up with fuel, and where travelers could stop for food.

Due to the popularity of the dining section, in 1926 ratings for restaurants were added based on the opinions of mystery diners. Today the guide includes not only restaurant ratings but also hotel and tourist attraction suggestions. Inclusion in the guide can make or break a business by bringing customers.

For restaurants, there are 5 ratings that can be given:

Naturally, I gravitate to Bib Gourmand. I have enjoyed several “The Plate” establishments without knowing of their ranking. Unfortunately for America, any star draws a lot of attention,  driving up demand and pricing. I seldom find starred locations in the US worth the accompanying exorbitant end-of-the-night bill. Still, hope springs eternal because of nights like one we had at The French Laundry.

Get It For Free

All of the above guidance can be yours for the low, low price of… free! That’s right. The best-known foodie guide is available without any subscription at http://viamichelin.com. You can find great new spots near you or research places for upcoming trips. Some restaurants can be booked through the site. You can also download the ViaMichelin app on iOS or Android for last-minute meal suggestions and bookings as you travel.

Coverage of North America is spotty. This is not surprising because the inspectors are paid and adding more would need to be justified by selling additional physical guides or tires.

Las Vegas is a notable popular destination lacking coverage.

Unexpected Criteria

I was surprised to learn that service, ambiance, and presentation are not among the criteria used by Michelin inspectors. Specifically, the criteria are:

• Quality of products
• Mastery of flavor and cooking techniques
• The personality of the chef represented in the dining experience
• Harmony of flavors
• Consistency between inspectors’ visits

In retrospect, this kind of explains an experience I had at a one-star joint in the Loire valley in France. While the food was certainly good, the service was run by 6 or so kids (young adults, I guess) swarming around a staging table with no clear direction. I felt somewhat ignored and we were even served the wrong food at one point. We are not likely to return to this restaurant given their performance.

I also find the “chef personality” inclusion interesting. It helps explain the celebrity chef phenomenon. It’s not clear to me how it really makes for a better experience. After all, Chuck E. Cheese gets some points by that measure.

Some Of My Finds

While staying in Nice, I found L’Aromate, a one-star establishment less than 100 feet from the entrance to our Airbnb rental. Diana and I are happy we could enjoy their menu prior to the lockdown we endured in Nice. The repast was elegant, refined, evocative, and well-executed. Our host indicated the earlier lockdown was hard for the owner/chefs. It is unclear if they survived all of the lockdowns so far.

Other Guide recommendations I have enjoyed:

• Orchard City Kitchen in Campbell, CA
• Yank Sing in San Francisco, CA
• John Ash & Co in Santa Rosa, CA
• Benoit in Paris, France
• A Mar in Jerez, Spain
• Mirador De Ulia in San Sebastian, Spain

Which Michelin Guide recommendations have you enjoyed?