ICYMI, MICHELIN just announced a brand-new Southwest regional guide, and for the first time ever, Utah is officially a contender for the prestigious MICHELIN-star recognition. It’s a major moment for our local restaurants. But how does one get a MICHELIN star?
The Criteria
MICHELIN inspectors famously visit restaurants anonymously and multiple times. They don’t consider the restaurant’s decor, celebrity status, or Instagram followers. Instead, they judge solely on the food according to five core criteria: Quality of the ingredients, mastery of flavor and cooking techniques, personality of the chef in the cuisine, harmony of flavors, and consistency.
What the Stars Mean
A MICHELIN star signals reliability: It means the food was great every time they sent someone. With Utah now on the map, diners could soon be seeing any (or all!) of these ratings land in the state.
⭐ One Star: A very good restaurant, worth a stop.
⭐⭐ Two Stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour.
⭐⭐⭐ Three Stars: Exceptional cuisine, add this to your bucket list!
My MICHELIN Picks
In another universe, I’m a MICHELIN inspector and I’m giving stars to these local legends:
When someone is visiting from out of town and I want to impress them, I’m booking a table at Oquirrh, Copper Common, or Franklin Ave. They switch up their menus to keep it interesting but remain consistently delicious.
And because this is my make-believe MICHELIN scenario, I’m awarding stars to a couple of stand-alone culinary geniuses: Josef Ezra of Thank You For the Short Notice, whose food pop-ups (including his famous smashburgers) are unforgettable; and Meg of Tomodachi Bake Shoppe, whose incredible pastry lineup is, I suspect, one of the reasons Loki Coffee is so popular.
