The Michelin Guide is finally heading north.
In May, the famed food guide announced an expansion of The Michelin Guide to include the upcoming Michelin Guide Toronto, the first Canadian destination for the selection. The guide, a spokesperson for Michelin explained in a statement, will be revealed in the fall of 2022 and will feature a selection of restaurants from around the city receiving honors.
Michelin Guide heads to Toronto
“For the first time in its history, the Michelin Guide lands in Canada, and our inspectors are excited to experience the impressive culinary landscape of Toronto,” Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides, shared in a statement provided to Food&Wine. “This first selection for Canada’s largest city, and our first in the country, will represent the local flavours, international inspiration, and distinct creativity that makes Toronto’s world-class dining scene.”
Like all of its guides, this too will include awarding Michelin Stars — One, Two, or Three — to the best cuisine in the city. It will also bestow Bib Gourmand ratings on restaurants that offer quality food at reasonable prices and the Michelin Green Star to restaurants that champion sustainable gastronomy.
To best prepare for the fall announcement, Michelin inspectors are already on the ground, anonymously visiting local restaurants to taste and rate the best of the best establishments. The rating process will continue over the summer to ensure inspectors have tasted dishes from as many establishments as possible.
“This is an exciting moment for our city as Toronto will become the first Michelin Guide destination in Canada,” Toronto’s Mayor John Tory added. “This further bolsters our reputation as a world destination for food and cuisine. Our diverse city, along with the many renowned chefs who call Toronto home, have helped us get to this point and to be able to showcase all of the wonderful restaurants.”
Though inspectors are on the ground now, it’s critical to understand that finding and rating such stellar cuisine is no easy feat. According to Michelin, the discovery process actually started in Toronto four years ago, including working with its partner, Destination Toronto, whom it collaborates with on the marketing and promotion activities for the guide.
“Toronto’s culinary scene is as diverse as the city itself, and the Michelin Guide Toronto is the perfect way to celebrate our culinary community,” Scott Beck, president & CEO of Destination Toronto, said. “It will be a powerful way to share our culinary capabilities with new audiences from around the world. We’re so proud to partner with Michelin and our destination partners Destination Ontario and Destination Canada, to bring the Michelin Guide to Canada for the first time.”
This story first appeared on www.foodandwine.com
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