The Michelin Guide has announced that the BIG REVEAL of Atlanta's guide will be on 10/24 at an invite-only ceremony at the Rialto Theater. Read more about it here.
I feel like Steve Martin in the 70's classic movie, The Jerk, when the new phone book arrives. "I'm somebody now!" Navin Johnson exclaims as he finds his name in print for the first time. This is what it feels like for a native Atlantan to find out that we will soon be a Michelin Guide city! I just ate at a 1-star last week in Paris--it's difficult to conceive how much better it could have been--2x better? 3x better? Those who achieve starts are the hall of famers in the restaurant game for sure.
The announcement that Michelin is entering the Atlanta market is seismic and fascinating. Imagine your beloved little toy poodle all of a sudden was eligible to compete in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show! Starting this fall Atlanta restaurants will find out if we have some best-in-class or even best-in-show restaurants.
What is the Michelin guide? This is a great video to explain.
How do they come up with the ratings? Watch this. The upcoming Atlanta restaurant selection will follow Michelin's historical methodology, based on five universal criteria, to ensure each destination's selection equity: 1) quality products; 2) the harmony of flavors; 3) the mastery of cooking techniques; 4) the voice and personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine; 5) consistency between each visit and throughout the menu (each restaurant is inspected several times a year).
What does it mean for Atlanta? Surely this will only elevate our status as a global player, putting us on a pedestal with New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. This can only motivate the existing talent and attract even more talent and investment in the years to come. As anonymous guides secretly comb the scene as we speak, the question now becomes--which of our fabled restaurants will get the coveted star(s)?