Texas and Houston will finally have their own MICHELIN guide

Image announcing the new MICHELIN Guide for Texas. Courtesy image.

One of the questions Houston diners constantly ask is, “Why don’t we have a Michelin GuideAfter all, Houston has always been hailed as one of the most best food scenes in the country for several years. Well, foodies, restaurateurs and chefs are about to see their wish come true: The MICHELIN Guide Finally Arrives in TexasThis will be the 11th in the United States.

This was made possible thanks to a collaboration between MICHELIN and Trip to Texasan entity supervised by the Texas Office of Economic Development and Tourism that encourages people to explore all the state has to offer. “The introduction of the Guide will be a tremendous asset to Texas, promoting our rich and diverse culinary culture and elevating the restaurant scene to an international stage,” said Tim Fennelldirector of Travel Texas, via a press release. (Travel Texas is only involved in promotional and marketing efforts. Restaurant selection is left exclusively to MICHELIN.)

The Texas guide will cover Houston, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio. According to a press release, MICHELIN guide inspectors have already visited restaurants. The honored establishments will be announced later this year. A restaurant can receive one, two or three awards. MICHELIN stars — three meaning “unparalleled cuisine”. There are two other distinctions: Bib Gourmand for places that offer high quality food at great prices, and MICHELIN Green Star for “sustainable gastronomy leaders”.

The evaluation criteria are the quality of the products, the harmony of flavors, the mastery of cooking techniques, the voice and personality of the chef as they are reflected in the cuisine and the consistency between each visit and throughout the menu. Promising restaurants are inspected several times a year.

“The Texas culinary scene has proven to be exciting, with multicultural influences, local ingredients and talent rich with ambition,” said Gwendal PoullennecInternational Director of the MICHELIN Guides, via a press release. “Foodies and travel enthusiasts will find what they are looking for in a wide variety of culinary offerings, from farm-to-table dishes to fusion cuisine, upscale restaurants and the famous Texas barbecue. Texas is an ideal place for the MICHELIN Guide, based on the experiences of our anonymous inspectors.”

Furthermore, Texas hotels to be recognized When MICHELIN announces its selection of the best hotels later this year, according to a press release, “each hotel in the Guide is chosen for its extraordinary style, service and personality, with options to suit every budget.”

2024 Texas Restaurant Selection to Join MICHELIN Guide selection of hotels later this year and will showcase the most unique and exciting places to stay in Texas and around the world.

Phaedra Cook has been writing about the Houston restaurant and bar scene since 2010. She has been a regular contributor to My table magazine (now closed) and was the lead restaurant critic for the Houston Press for two years before being promoted to food editor. Cook founded Houston Food Finder in November 2016 and has served as its editor and publisher ever since.

Related