Michelin Guide will reveal its first-ever Colorado Guide selections on Sept. 12 at the Mission Ballroom in downtown Denver. In June, Colorado was announced as the eighth MICHELIN Guide destination in North America with Aspen, Beaver Creek, Boulder, Denver, Snowmass Village, and Vail to be featured.
Chefs from these communities are invited to the private event in September for the announcement of Colorado’s first-ever Michelin Guide Designees to see if their restaurant teams have earned a Michelin Star, Bib Gourmand, or other Michelin Guide distinction. This is the first time any Colorado restaurants are eligible for a Michelin recognition.
The Categories
The one, two and three Michelin Stars identify establishments serving exceptional cuisine that’s rich in flavor, remarkably executed, and infused with the personality of a talented chef. The Bib Gourmand is a designation given to select restaurants that offer good quality food for a good value and are frequently personal favorites when inspectors dine on their own time.
Other distinctions include the Green Star, which honors pioneer restaurants in the area of sustainable gastronomy, recommended restaurants, and special professional awards highlighted by Michelin Guide inspectors.
What It Means to Colorado
The announcement of Colorado’s first-ever Michelin Guide Designees highlights the dedication of the state’s culinary industry and reinforces the state as a premier dining destination for groups and all travelers.
“Bringing the Michelin Guide to Colorado further amplifies our state’s status as a place where extraordinary dining experiences come to life,” says Colorado Tourism Office Director Timothy Wolfe. “This event marks a monumental occasion as we unveil the first-ever Colorado selections and showcase the exceptional dedication and innovation of our culinary community.”
Guide History
The Michelin Guide was first published in France at the turn of the 20th century to encourage the development of car mobility and tire sales by giving practical advice to motorists. Progressively, the guide has specialized in restaurant and hotel recommendations. Inspectors still use the same criteria and manner of selection that were used in the very beginning and are now applied in more than 40 destinations around the world.
The first North American guide was introduced in 2005 for New York, with guides later added for Atlanta, Georgia; California; Chicago, Illinois; Florida; Toronto, Ontario, and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; and Washington, D.C.
