The Michelin Guide is no longer the only tastemaker in town
How is it adapting to changing eating habits?
It began, implausibly, with a guide to French roads. In 1900 two brothers, André and Édouard Michelin, wanted to promote travel by car as a route to rev up sales of their tyres. Their first book gathered practical information such as maps and the locations of mechanics; later, recognising that travellers want fuel for themselves as well as their vehicles, it expanded its restaurant recommendations. The company first introduced its star-ranking system in 1926.
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This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “Word of mouth”
Culture February 1st 2025
From the February 1st 2025 edition
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