| There was recently a milestone birthday in my family. | | | | Chefs whose face is adorned on countless products |
| Sixty years on this Earth. It must be an incredible | | | | sold all over the world. Gordon Ramsay, Bobby Flay, |
| feeling. To celebrate, I wanted to take this person to a | | | | Alain Ducasse, Mario Batali and many more. These |
| Michelin Starred restaurant in New York. As I began to | | | | chefs have a lot to live up to and their quality control |
| research which restaurant to go to I started to see a | | | | seems to be phenomenal. Each chef owns numerous |
| trend occurring. There were almost twice the amount | | | | restaurants and this could be one reason we are |
| of Michelin 3 Starred restaurants now as there were | | | | seeing so many Michelin 3 stars being given away. To |
| just seven years ago. I began to think that something | | | | look at the quality control the above chefs bring to their |
| was rotten in the foodie world. | | | | restaurants one only has to look at Gordon Ramsay. |
| Had the Michelin Guide lowered its standards after 100 | | | | This fiery chef is an absolute monster in the kitchen. |
| years? Or were there just better chefs and restaurant | | | | Anyone who has seen his shows can attest to that. |
| owners now than seven years ago? To answer that | | | | But he gets results. Of course he does, people are too |
| question I would have to have eaten in all the Michelin | | | | bloody scared to cross him, or disobey him. He's |
| Starred restaurants from 2002-2007 and then | | | | collecting Michelin stars at a rate that scars me to |
| compared the difference. Instead, I looked to the | | | | death. It honestly scares me to think that someone is |
| blogosphere. And thanks to people like Andy Hayler | | | | so talented and so good at something. Bravo Gordon, |
| (the first person to eat in all the Michelin 3 Starred | | | | you're doing a brilliant job. |
| restaurants) I was able to obtain some pretty good | | | | No, I don't think it's just a case of the Michelin Guide |
| information on this topic. | | | | lowering its standards. I think it's a combination of three |
| There are now four Michelin 3 Starred restaurants in | | | | things: |
| New York and the general consensus is that each and | | | | 1. Super Chefs are being made at cookie cutter speed |
| every one lacked something that the European | | | | these days |
| Michelin 3 Star restaurants have. I have been to Per | | | | 2. These chefs are demanding quality control which |
| Se and Le Bernardin in New York City and I can | | | | has been unheard of until now and |
| confirm without a doubt that both of these restaurants | | | | 3. Dining is now a more profitable business than in any |
| lack the taste, refinement and total "wow factor" of | | | | other time in history. |
| similar restaurants in Europe and beyond. It would | | | | To prove it, go turn on the TV. What do you see? |
| seem that the Michelin Guide lowered its standards | | | | Food shows right? People are making a lot of money |
| slightly either to please wealthy New Yorkers, or to | | | | in the food business and it helps to have your |
| please its own readers who want to visit these | | | | restaurant listed among the other Michelin 3 Star |
| hallowed establishments and would be displeased if | | | | restaurants. |
| there were only one or two 3 Star restaurants in New | | | | These chefs are not just great cooks who have had |
| York. For the very first time there is a Japanese | | | | some success. These are titans in their ever |
| restaurant with 3 Michelin stars, Masa. Does this mean | | | | expanding field. They are global brands like Nike and |
| the Michelin critics have broadened their taste buds? | | | | Apple. And personally, I think everyone is better for it. It |
| We are clearly looking at a different Michelin Guide | | | | has raised the bar to incredible heights. And they have |
| now than in 2002. However, we are also in a time of | | | | made it harder on themselves, not easier. |
| the "Super Chef." That is, the numerous Celebrity | | | | And we are the beneficiaries. |