After two years of rigorous research by Michelin’s team of
anonymous American inspectors, the company today introduced the MICHELIN Guide
Chicago 2011, showcasing the finest restaurants and hotels in Chicago. Chicago joins New York
and San Francisco as the only American cities with an annual MICHELIN Guide. The
MICHELIN Guide Chicago 2011 goes on sale Nov. 18 at $18.99 and from beginning February
2011 in France (17,90 euros).
The first edition of the Chicago MICHELIN Guide offers a selection of 342
restaurants in various price and comfort categories and 39 hotels. MICHELIN
inspectors included 42 different types of cuisine.
Michelin has done as much to enhance mobility as any company in the world. The company
patented the pneumatic, or air-filled, automobile tire in the late 1800s. This was a milestone
moment in mobility; it permitted automobile owners to travel at great length in a single
journey. Then, in an effort to prompt travelers to enjoy their newfound mobility, the company
created guides – and detailed maps – to steer travelers on their way. More than 1 million copies
of the MICHELIN guides are sold each year in the world.
Inclusion in the MICHELIN guide is a sign of excellence and is free of charge.
Though restaurants with Michelin stars tend to capture the most attention, they only represent
10 percent of the guide’s content. In the 2011 MICHELIN Guide Chicago, restaurants are listed
by neighborhood and indexed by cuisine and by category.
On Nov. 10, Michelin announced the Bib Gourmand restaurants in the Chicago guide. Bib
Gourmands, defined as “Inspector’s Favorites for Good Value,” and denote high-quality
restaurants that serve two courses and either dessert or wine (minus tax and gratuity) for less
than $40. 46 Chicago restaurants earned the Bib Gourmand designation. Bib
Gourmand restaurants are identified in the guide by a red symbol depicting the head of
Bibendum, the Michelin Man. There are also 109 restaurants selected in the guide offering a
menu under 25 dollars.
Two Chicago restaurants earned three stars in the MICHELIN Guide Chicago 2011
(Alinea and L2O). Three stars are a global emblem of exceptional dining; only 93 restaurants
worldwide currently hold three Michelin stars. Three restaurants earned two stars:
Avenues, Charlie Trotter’s and Ria. 18 restaurants earned a single star.
MICHELIN stars are the highest honor the guide can bestow. Having a star means that not only
is a restaurant among the best in its city, but also in the world. It is a mark of consistent
excellence across all categories and it is based only on the quality of the food.
The star ratings are as follows:
· One star * indicates “a very good restaurant in its category,” a place offering cuisine
prepared to a consistently high standard.
· Two stars ** denote “excellent cooking, worth a detour,” skillfully and carefully crafted
dishes of outstanding quality.
· Three stars reward ***“exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.” One always eats
extremely well here, often superbly. Distinctive dishes are precisely executed.
“Michelin is showing the world what Chicago residents already know – this is one of the finest
cities in the world to eat,” said Jean-Luc Naret, director of the MICHELIN guides. “Chicago is
the beneficiary of an abundance of rich regional farmland – everything you need to create the
perfect meal can be sourced locally. And the chefs in Chicago are among the world’s most
creative.”
Starred restaurants and Bib Gourmands are only two of the multiple categories within the
MICHELIN Guide Chicago 2011.
For instance, the “Breakfast Specialists” highlight Chicago restaurants with standout
breakfast preparations. Chicago is the only city with this category of establishments. 19 Chicago
restaurants were featured in this list.
The MICHELIN guide offers a broad selection of hotels and restaurants in each price and
comfort category, taking into account the local environment. This rating is unique to Michelin
and consistent worldwide. It is expressed in two ways:
A comfort rating: levels of comfort are rated using one to five forks and spoons for restaurants and one to five pavilions for hotels. Those symbols
only judge the comfort of the establishment. They are: the furnishings of the
establishment, the service, the cleanliness and upkeep of the surroundings. Red forks
and spoons or red pavilions are for especially pleasant establishments.
Special distinctions for certain establishments: these include stars for the very
best restaurants . The stars judge only what’s on the plate, meaning the
quality of products, the mastering of flavors, the mastering of cooking, the “personality”
of the cuisine, the value for money and the consistency of what it offers to its customers
both throughout the menu and the year.
*Starred Restaurants
***
Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.
One always eats here extremely well, sometimes superbly. Distinctive dishes
are precisely executed
Alinea
L2O
**
Excellent cuisine, worth a detour.
Skillfully and carefully crafted dishes of outstanding quality.
Avenues
Charlie Trotter’s
Ria
*
A very good restaurant in its category.
A place offering cuisine prepared to a consistently high standard.
Blackbird
Boka
Bonsoirée
Crofton on Wells
Everest
Graham Elliot
Longman & Eagle
NAHA
NoMI
Schwa
Seasons
Sepia
Sixteen
Spiaggia
Takashi
Topolobampo
Tru
Vie
MICHELIN Guide Netherlands
Bestelllink: 978-2-06715-379-0
GAULT MILLAU Deutschland
Bestellmöchlichkeit: 978-3-86244-002-3