I have quite a bucket list. A lot of it is eating at a certain restaurant and that is not Izakaya (delicious there, you know) around the corner from me, but rather a bit further away and with at least one Michelin star. Those restaurants are unaffordable, let alone that you can even reserve a spot. La Chevre d’Or in Eze on the Côte d’Azur, dining at Anne-Sophie Pic or Noma in Copenhagen, yep, they are on my list.

Today, I’m going to update you on those Michelin stars. It’s not just something.

How do you get a star?

The first star has everything to do with the kitchen. According to Michelin, they are a dining guide and not a coziness guide. That’s why they only judge what’s on the plate. I would think that when served with a big smile, in a beautiful space with nicely set tables, clean and shiny glassware and cutlery, it would be better than when it’s just plopped on the table by a really dull guy, but that’s beside the point.

Who decides that?

The company Michelin has a number of inspectors who assess who deserves a star. I believe that the Netherlands has five. If you get a star (or lose one, that can happen too), the head inspector must have visited first. It often happens that a restaurant is visited more than three times before a real decision is made. For a restaurant that might have a third star in its future, at least eight inspectors come by.
The inspectors are anonymous, but if a Belgian comes in alone to serve, most chefs get a bit nervous.

Also important

You get a star when the kitchen is of exceptional quality. Additionally, continuity is very important. They want to be sure that when they award a star, that quality remains. The service must have a lot of knowledge about the restaurant, the kitchen, and the menu so that the Michelin inspector doesn’t just happen to have a really good evening. Furthermore, the quality of the products is very important and also that multiple techniques are used in the preparation of the dishes. The restrooms must look impeccable, and regarding the entrance and reception, it goes without saying that it must go smoothly.

Okay, now we move on to ‘how do you behave in such a restaurant’. First of all, you naturally put on a nice outfit . Of course, you will really get a plate of food if you walk in with All Stars, but it’s not really appropriate. I don’t think you can be overdressed in such a restaurant. For everyone who goes there, it’s an outing. Then come the table manners. Do I really have to explain that to you? Napkin on your lap, knife on the right, fork on the left, and please don’t stick your nose in the linen.