Michelin Guide Bringing Expansion to Toronto, Its First Canadian Destination
A hub for international cuisine, unique independent operations and high-end foodservice experiences, Toronto is getting its own expansion version of The MICHELIN Guide, the first Canadian expansion to take place, as reported by Michelin and Destination Toronto.
Arriving this fall, the inaugural MICHELIN Guide Toronto will feature MICHELIN star-honoured, as awarded by MICHELIN Guide inspectors; 1-3 stars per honouree with consideration to be “unparalleled cuisine.” Inspectors also award Bib Gourmand ratings to establishments to restaurants with good-priced quality food as well as MICHELIN Green Stars to those excelling at sustainable gastronomy.
“For the first time in its history, the MICHELIN Guide lands in Canada, and our inspectors are excited to experience the impressive culinary landscape of Toronto,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the MICHELIN Guides. “This first selection for Canada’s largest city, and our first in the country, will represent the local flavours, international inspiration, and distinct creativity that makes Toronto’s dining scene world-class.”
Michelin inspectors have already been indulging in the city’s food offerings at the time of writing in order to have their choices selected independently in time for the fall guide release and will remain anonymous as restaurant visits continue throughout the summer.
These inspectors are known to make reservations and pay for their meals themselves in order to remain undercover and served like any regular customer walking through a restaurant’s doors. They’ll also visit locations multiple times to ensure consistency in their five considered criteria; quality products, the mastery of flavours, the mastery of cooking techniques, the personality of the chef in the cuisine and the consistency between each visit.
“This is an exciting moment for our city as Toronto will become the first MICHELIN Guide destination in Canada,” said Mayor John Tory. “This further bolsters our reputation as a world destination for food and cuisine. Our diverse city, along with the many renowned chefs who call Toronto home, have helped us get to this point and to be able to showcase all of the wonderful restaurants. A big thank you to everyone who has made this possible: MICHELIN, Destination Toronto, Destination Ontario and Destination Canada. While we await the guide, I encourage Toronto residents to continue supporting and celebrating the revival of Toronto restaurants by dining in locally to sample the diverse culinary offerings our restaurants have to offer.”
“Toronto’s culinary scene is as diverse as the city itself, and the MICHELIN Guide Toronto is the perfect way to celebrate our culinary community,” said Scott Beck, President & CEO of Destination Toronto. “It will be a powerful way to share our culinary capabilities with new audiences from around the world. We’re so proud to partner with Michelin and our destination partners Destination Ontario and Destination Canada, to bring the MICHELIN Guide to Canada for the first time.”
Feature Image Credit: Destination Toronto
