However, one country that the Michelin Guide has yet to cover is Australia. Despite the absence of the Michelin Guide, Australia's culinary scene has been thriving in recent years. The country boasts a diverse range of cuisine, from indigenous flavors to innovative fusion dishes.
Fancy going all-out and exploring the country's world-famous dining destinations? Although there currently isn't a Michelin Guide down under, there are plenty of eateries that are worthy of a spot.
What is the Australian equivalent to Michelin stars? The Australian Good Food Guide Chef Hat Awards is the closest rating system to the Michelin Star in Australia. This system rates a restaurant from 0 to 20, awarding a number of hats that correspond to a number of Michelin stars.
The pearl of Perth, the love of London and now the heart of Hong Kong, Chef Shane Osborn's career and appeal stretches the globe. Born and bred in Perth, Shane became the very first Australian head chef to lead a restaurant to attaining Michelin star status (January 2001), all at the tender age of 29.
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.
Perhaps disappointingly, the answer is no - three is still the maximum number of Michelin stars that can be awarded to any one restaurant.
In October 2013, the Gordon Ramsay at The London restaurant in New York lost its two Michelin stars owing to issues encountered by the Michelin reviewers. The guide's director Michael Ellis stated that he was served "some very erratic meals" and also experienced "issues with consistency."
Aiden Byrne
Aiden was just 22 when he earned his first Michelin star and owns several pubs in England.
Gordon Ramsay, 16 Michelin Stars
He has a famously hot temper, and the ability to cook British cuisine's most delicious recipes. Ramsay's cluster of 16 Michelin Stars. His name is tied to nearly 20 restaurants but his main restaurant in Chelsea is probably the most popular.
However, Jamie doesn't really have one signature dish. Instead he wrote many cookbooks with memorable, easy food. How many Michelin stars does Jamie Oliver have? Jamie Oliver still hasn't received any Michelin Star.
With one, two, or up to three stars to gain, a restaurant can obtain various levels of prestige. Restaurants and chefs will consider the acquiring (and losing) of stars as defining moments of their careers.
Why are there no Michelin star restaurants in Australia? The simplest answer is that the Michelin Guide (The Red Guide) covers various countries throughout the world but has yet to step onto the sandy sun-kissed shores of Australia.
Most definitely however, it is because of Australia's relaxed approach to service. We are not a country that exudes stuffiness, nor would we accept the Michelin's apparent judging criteria. It is the antithesis of Australian dining.
Other rating systems in Australia
If you've noticed that there aren't any Australian restaurants with Michelin stars, that's not because our local restaurants aren't any good – it's because there isn't a Michelin Guide for Australia. The Red Guide covers locations in Europe, Asia, and America only.
While the coveted Michelin Guide has yet to cover the food scene in the land down under, Australian chefs have nonetheless been making their mark around the world. Here are five chefs who have earned Michelin stars, including two in Hong Kong.
Curtis Travis Stone (born 4 November 1975) is an Australian celebrity chef, author and television personality.
Dim sum powerhouse Tim Ho Wan, the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world, has picked Australia as its first ever venture outside South-East Asia. Set to open in Chatswood on Saturday, March 28, Tim Ho Wan is one of the year's most anticipated restaurant openings we've seen in a while.
According to the guide, one Michelin star represents a “very good restaurant in its category,” while two stars denotes a restaurant boasting “excellent cooking” that is “worth a detour.” Three stars, however, is the ultimate accolade, afforded only to those restaurants that offer “exceptional cuisine” that is “worth a ...
One Star: The restaurant is considered “very good in its category” having a quality menu and prepares cuisine to a consistently high standard. Two Stars: The restaurant has excellent cuisine delivered in a unique way, and has something exceptional to offer — it's “worth a detour” to visit while traveling.
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.
The country that has the most restaurants that have earned a Michelin star is France. France has a total of 632 restaurants that have Michelin stars.
Gordon Ramsay: 17 Michelin Stars
Ramsay is associated with seven current Michelin Stars, but throughout his career his restaurants have earned a total of 17 stars.
Michael Ellis, the director of Michelin's Guide, explained 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.