MANILA, Philippines – Michelin Guide is coming to the Philippines to explore the culinary scenes in select parts of the country.
Michelin Guide on Tuesday, February 18 (Manila time), announced that it would be expanding into Metro Manila and Cebu, and that it would also begin to venture into Pampanga, Tagaytay, and other parts of Cavite.
In its teaser video, the famed guide showed clips of Philippine street food, palengkes (wet markets) roadside fruit stalls, as well as some fine dining establishments. Some popular Filipino dishes shown in the video are sisig, chicken inasal, lechon, chicken adobo, and kare-kare.
Michelin Guide has been anonymously reviewing the restaurants and establishments in select areas in the country in search of the “most exceptional” ones. Its arrival in the Philippines will spotlight the country’s “most talented chefs and dedicated teams” who are actively approaching local cuisine with fresh perspectives.
“Our Michelin Inspectors have been following the evolution of the Filipino culinary scene with great excitement. The country’s deep-rooted culinary traditions, combined with a strong openness to global influences, create a uniquely diverse dining culture,” said Michelin Guide International Director Gwendal Poullennec.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco cited the significance of the development: “The arrival of the Michelin Guide is not only a testament to our country’s culinary excellence but also a significant leap forward for Filipino tourism, with gastronomy now forming a key part of our national tourism priorities. In the Philippines, every dish tells a story and every flavor is an invitation to experience our nation’s rich cultural tapestry.”
Established by French tire company Micheln, the Michelin Guides are a series of culinary guide books that award dining establishments with great food offerings across the world with “stars.” These are assessed through five universal criteria:
- Quality of the ingredients
- Cooking techniques
- Harmony of flavors in dishes
- Cuisine’s personality
- Consistency over time and in terms of menu
A single restaurant can earn up to three Michelin stars.
Other than the “star” ratings, restaurants can also be awarded with the Bib Gourmand distinction, given to those who have proven that they can serve good quality food at reasonable prices.
The Michelin Guides started out as a guide for motorists in 1889, made by brothers Andre and Edouard Michelin for their tire company. The guides included information for travelers, maps, tutorials on how to change a tire, where to get fuel, and more.
It was in 1920 when it began including restaurants in its guides. From there, it began to recruit “mystery diners” to review different restaurants anonymously.
The Michelin Guides expanded across Europe in 1911, and first made its way to Asia in 2007, starting with Japan. – Rappler.com