(WGHP) — North Carolina foodies will have to travel if they dream of dining at a Michelin Star restaurant.
“A Michelin Star is awarded to restaurants offering outstanding cooking,” according to the Michelin Guide. The award is granted to restaurants after anonymous inspectors dine there to assess five specific criteria: “the quality of the ingredients, the harmony of flavours, the mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine and, just as importantly, consistency both across the entire menu and over time.”
Michelin Stars are awarded by the tire company Michelin, which began publishing Michelin Guides in France in 1900. These guides were conceived of initially as a way to boost car ownership, and thus tire demand, across France. In 1926, they began issuing star ranking to restaurants as part of their guides and the star ranking was solidified in 1931, with several European countries having their own guides by then.
Michelin began issuing stars in the United States in 2005. The U.S. Michelin Guides focus on specific cities and states, so only restaurants within those areas are eligible. The U.S. guides started with New York City. Since then, Michelin has expanded to the cities of Washington D.C., Atlanta, Chicago and formerly Las Vegas, as well as the states of California, Colorado and Florida.
North Carolina is not one of the states that is featured in a Michelin Guide. Carolinian foodie seeking the best of the best will have to travel, and the closest starred restaurants are in Washington D.C. and Atlanta.
However, if traveling isn’t in the cards, there are prestigious culinary honors that you can find a little closer to home.
James Beard Awards
North Carolina often features among the yearly nominees and semi-finalists for the James Beard Awards. James Beard Awards are highly coveted culinary awards that span multiple categories.
North Carolina chefs and restaurants largely centered around Asheville and the Triangle have taken home the prize several times in the past few years. The only winner in the Piedmont Triad was Lexington Barbecue #1 which won in the America’s Classics category in 2003.
While North Carolina didn’t take any top prizes in the 2024 James Beard Awards, Piedmont Triad favorites like Machete in Greensboro and Sweet Potatoes in Winston-Salem have made it up to the semifinalist round in recent years, and this year Bobby Boy Bakeshop was in the running for best bakery.
It’s easy to find highly ranked and award-winning places to grab a meal, even if the prestige of a Michelin Star isn’t available in the Tar Heel State.
Best restaurants in the Carolinas
If you’re hungry, which you probably are at this point, check out the Yelp ranking for 100 best places in the Carolinas to grab a meal.
