The Michelin Guide announced today that it will launch a Great Lakes edition that includes Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh. Basically, every major city in the region, except Chicago, is included in a separate Michelin Guide.
As Eater’s Matthew Kang recently explained, this continues the guide’s partnership with destination marketing organizations. These organizations pay to gain Michelin consideration on the basis that Michelin recognition will help drive tourism to their cities and meals to their restaurants. “Our chefs and restaurateurs have been building a vibrant food scene for years, and this recognition will help attract new visitors, support local hospitality jobs and strengthen Pittsburgh’s reputation as an exciting culinary destination for gastronomic travelers,” Visit Pittsburgh President and CEO Jerad Bachar said in a statement. The guide makes it clear that these partnerships have no influence on which restaurant you choose.
In 1926, the Michelin Guide began awarding stars to restaurants in France. In 2005, it expanded to North America, initially presenting Star Awards in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago. In recent years, the guide has expanded aggressively across the United States, most recently launching guides in the Southern United States, Boston, Philadelphia, and the Southwest. (South, Boston and Philadelphia have their first selections scheduled for late 2025; the Southwest’s first selections are expected to be announced later this year.)
According to a press release, Michelin inspectors have already begun exploring the city for the first selection, which will be revealed next year.
