One of the most elite and prestigious markers of success in the food industry is the Michelin Guide.
For the first time ever, the Michelin Guide announced awards for the American Southwest, and a Utah restaurant received the honor of earning the state’s first Michelin star.
Upscale South Salt Lake restaurant Monte received the iconic Michelin star, announced late Wednesday.
“Located within the Beehive Distillery in South Salt Lake, this ambitious restaurant charts its own course in the region,” the Michelin Guide writes. “Gin barrels stacked high, concrete floors and a handful of widely spaced tables set the stage, as Chef Martín Babio draws on decades of experience to prepare a refined tasting menu that leans on local producers.”
Babio leads the team at Monte, a high-end restaurant with “an underground fine dining experience built around seasonality, local sourcing and a deep respect for the land,” according to its website.
Other Michelin recognized restaurants in Utah
The new guide focused on restaurants located in Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico. The other stars awarded on Wednesday night all went to restaurants located in Las Vegas.
Eight other Utah restaurants received recognition.
Five received Michelin recommendations:
- Handle in Park City
- Koyote in Salt Lake City
- Nelson Cottage by High West in Park City
- Star of India in Salt Lake City
- Matilda in Park City
Three earned the Bib Gourmand recognition:
- Feldman’s Deli in Salt Lake City
- Pho 777 in West Valley City
- One More Noodle House in South Salt Lake
What’s the significance of the Michelin star and Michelin Guide recognitions?
The Michelin Guide is “One of the oldest and most respected guides in the world” and has been published by the French tire company Michelin since the 1900s, according to the Michelin Guide.
How does it work? Michelin’s in-house inspectors, who are experienced hospitality and restaurant professionals, anonymously rate and review restaurants, offering up different levels of recognition.
What recognition can restaurants receive? A Michelin star is the highest accolade of The Guide and is awarded annually.
There are five universal criteria for evaluating restaurants, according to the guide, including:
- The quality of ingredients
- The harmony of flavors
- The mastery of techniques
- The personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine
- Consistency across the entire menu and over time
There are three levels of Michelin Stars that represent different distinctions. The guide breaks it down as follows:
- One Michelin star: These are restaurants “that are worth a stop.”
- Two Michelin stars: These restaurants qualify as “worth a detour.”
- Three Michelin stars: “These restaurants are worth a special journey.”
Aside from the stars, the Michelin Guide also awards restaurants special recommendations. These restaurants can be more affordable or on the higher end.
From there, the Michelin Guide has the Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction, which honors “restaurants that simply offer good quality, good value cooking.” With this distinction, inspectors are seeking a combination of quality ingredients balanced with a reasonable price.