Michelin star and bib gourmands

Florida has been lucky enough to have been awarded 19 Michelin star awards with 12 of them in Miami (four in Orlando and now three in Tampa). Further, Florida has 36 Bibendum Gourmand (bib gourmand), of which 18 are in the Miami area, award winning restaurants as well. As of 2022, in the United States there are only 13 3-star Michelin restaurants, 33 2-star and 185 1-star Michelin restaurants.

There seems to be a great deal of confusion on what is a Michelin 1 star, 2 star, 3 star, Bib Gourmand award or just a mention in the Michelin guide. Where does the Michelin star award come from and what differentiates several stars from one star? What does it mean to be a bibendumgourmand restaurant?

The Michelin star awards originated in 1926 in a series of published books by the Michelin tire company. These were created in 1900 and were distributed freely for about 20 years to encourage travel by car and auto sales. Originally covering France, it began to spread to other countries. By 1931, the three star system we have today was being used. The Michelin star is considered an honor among many restaurateurs and many strive to attain this distinction. The exact criteria for each star award is unknown however it is known that these are determined by anonymous visits and becoming a Michelin inspector is not an easy task. At the very least, the food should taste good and varying degrees of creativity are considered. Consistency in flavor is taken into account. Some restaurants appear to be given their star(s) based on this alone. There is some debate on whether the service is taken into account or if it is only based on the food. Others state that it is based on the overall experience.

The bib gourmand (introduced in 1997) are restaurants that may also have a star ranking but are also a good value. Furthermore, they most offer 3 courses for less than a predetermined amount based on the region. For Florida, it is $49. The bibendum is derived from the slogan "Nunc est bibendum" which means "Now is the time to drink" which was more fashionable in the 1890s when the mascot and name were created. He is known in the United States as the Michelin Man.

Being mentioned in the Michelin guide is a good feat as well as it can mean you are on the radar and could theoretically be part of the pool in consideration for a star or Bib Gourmand award.

In the past few years (since 2020), there has been a Michelin green star award given to restaurants that emphasize sustainability, whose definition range from using less plastic to having as little waste as possible. According to Michelin, the provenance of the ingredients; the use of seasonal produce; the restaurant's environmental footprint; food waste systems; general waste disposal and recycling; resource management; and the communication between the team and the guests about the restaurant's sustainable approach are items that are considered for award. Any restaurant can have a michelin green star whether it is also awarded a Michelin star or bib gourmand award or not. There are currently only 26 Michelin Green Star awarded restaurants in the United States.

The Michelin Green Star
"Highlights restaurants at the forefront of the industry when it comes to their sustainable practices"

The Bib Gourmand

"Offering a three course meal at a reasonable price"

The Michelin Stars:
"A very good restaurant in its category" (Une très bonne table dans sa catégorie)

"Excellent cooking, worth a detour" (Table excellente, mérite un détour)

"Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey" (Une des meilleures tables, vaut le voyage)