As Michelin Guide international director Michael Ellis told Vanity Fair in 2015: “'You can agree with it or you cannot, but you can't give it back. That's not an issue. ' The giving back of stars — that's 'kind of an urban myth.
In 1994, a 32-year-old Marco Pierre White became the youngest chef to achieve three stars at his eponymous restaurant. By 1999, he'd renounced the stars, quitting the restaurant that had made him a culinary star.
To earn one Michelin star, a restaurant needs to be “a very good restaurant in this category”. For two stars, it needs to be “excellent cooking, worth a detour”. For three stars, a restaurant must serve “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.”
Technically speaking, Michelin stars do expire after the publication of a new Guide. However, most critics and consumers accept that restaurants don't lose and then regain stars year after year. In almost all cases, the decision to revoke a star will not have been taken lightly.
Michelin stars are the top of the top. They bring reservations, and consequently, a sales increase,” he says. But recognition has its downside: “The real cost of keeping the stars is very high. It goes hand in hand with an enormous effort in terms of staffing, installations, etc., not to mention the pressure.
Anonymity: Although our inspectors are employees of Michelin, they're above all customers first - just like you. Testing restaurants in complete anonymity in order to ensure that they do not receive any special treatment is essential to the creditability of the MICHELIN Guide.
Since the 1920s, the Michelin Guide has been awarding stars to fine dining restaurants of note (via the Micheline Guide website). Many chefs work their entire careers in hopes of earning a Michelin star, the top honor in the culinary world, according to Discover.
Gordon Ramsay: 17 Michelin Stars
Yet despite his large and sometimes hotheaded personality, Ramsay has the Michelin stars to prove his talent as a chef. Ramsay is associated with seven current Michelin Stars, but throughout his career his restaurants have earned a total of 17 stars.
Now internationally renowned and holding 7 Michelin stars, Ramsay has opened a string of successful restaurants across the globe, from Singapore to the United States.
To earn one star, a restaurant must be considered "a very good restaurant in its category." For two stars, the criteria is "excellent cooking, worth a detour." To qualify for the elusive three stars, a restaurant must serve up "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey."
"Smart casual" or "elegant casual" are preferred by many restaurants, but that certainly doesn't mean "casual" in the sense we know it. Michelin-star eateries care not for trends such as athleisure or ripped denim. In hospitality language, "casual" means "comfortable."
We sometimes eat alone, sometimes in pairs – we always try to vary things up.
Criteria Evaluated by Michelin Inspectors
Keep in mind that Michelin stars are awarded to restaurants rather than chefs. The operation earns the award and the chef is only one person within that operation.
The Real Reason Behind His Lost Michelin Stars
According to Michael Ellis, the director of Michelin's Guide, the reason behind Chef Ramsay's loss of his Michelin Stars is inconsistency. What is this? “The inspectors were disappointed with the consistency of the food,” he said.
Only one restaurant has been given the proverbial chop and lost a star: Seven Park Place in Mayfair. Sadly one of the restaurants that held a Michelin star in 2022 has permanently closed: The Glasshouse in Kew.
Seven Park Place in London and the Woodspeen, Newbury are among the eight Michelin deletions following the launch of this year's Great Britain and Ireland Guide 2023.
All about Michelin Star Chefs? First, there are about 2500 restaurants awarded of 1 Michelin Star in the world, 500 restaurants with 2 Michelin Stars and around 150 awarded 3 Michelin Stars. Secondly, this evolves every year based on the release of the guide in every part of the world.
They include Michael O'hare, Taylor Bonnyman, John Williams and Tommy Banks. Take a look at their career to date plus find out how the other guides rate them including Good Food Guide, AA Restaurant Guide and Hardens.
Three MICHELIN Stars is our highest award, given for the superlative cooking of chefs at the peak of their profession; their cooking is elevated to an art form and some of their dishes are destined to become classics.
Joël Robuchon: 31 stars
Although he passed away with only 28 stars to his name, at one point Robuchon was the proud owner of 31 Michelin stars. He has also been dubbed the Chef of the Century on numerous occasions.
In order to earn a star, the food in the restaurant will be reviewed multiple times. To lose one, it will be again reviewed a few times, but generally, it will take less time to make a decision. Key Takeaway: Any restaurant can lose a Michelin Star. Lack of consistency is the main reason why a Star is taken away.
The guide is updated annually, and while restaurants can lose their stars if they close during the year of assessment, they will not lose the stars if the head chef leaves, even if it's just after a new guide has been released, as long is there is continuity of culinary quality.
Is a Michelin star permanent? No, Michelin stars aren't permanent like an Oscar or a Grammy is. They are awarded every year. A restaurant can win a star one year, and lose it the next if it isn't maintaining its standards as per the inspectors.