RIYADH: The Michelin Guide is set to launch in Saudi Arabia, marking a major milestone in the Kingdom’s evolving culinary landscape.
Organized in partnership with the Culinary Arts Commission, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, the “new selection will focus on the bustling cities of Riyadh and Jeddah, while also beginning to explore the diverse regions of the Kingdom, including Khobar, AlUla, and many more,” according to the Michelin Guide.
Gwendal Poullennec is the international director of the Michelin Guide. (AN/ Huda Bashatah)
Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, spoke to Arab News in Riyadh on Tuesday and explained that the ultimate aim is to “(explore), gradually, the regions to unearth all the culinary gems and to make sure that we are letting no stone go unturned.
“I think you have the heritage, you have the dynamism, you have young talents,” he added of the Kingdom.
According to the organization, Michelin inspectors “are already in the field.” The selection will be made according to the Michelin Guide’s criteria: “The quality of the ingredients, the mastery of cooking techniques, the harmony of flavors, the personality of the cuisine and the consistency both over time and through the menu as a whole,” according to a released statement.
Poullennec spoke to Arab News in Riyadh on Tuesday and explained that the ultimate aim is to “(explore), gradually, the regions to unearth all the culinary gems and to make sure that we are letting no stone go unturned. (AN/ Huda Bashatah)
One Michelin star is awarded to restaurants for “high-quality cooking that is worth a stop,” two stars for “excellent cooking that is worth a detour,” and three stars for “exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey.”
Alongside the coveted star ratings, the selection also includes the popular Bib Gourmand category, a distinction awarded to restaurants that provide good quality food at a moderate price.
Aside from impacting the country’s F&B scene, Poullennec also touched on the Michelin Guide’s effect on the local economy.
Mayada Badr is the CEO of the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission. (AN/ Huda Bashatah)
“I have to say that, beyond the selection, beyond the stars, there are also a lot of ripple effects throughout the food chain. For example, impacting the products and the farmers (who) will find a demand for local high-quality products in a region,” he said.
The restaurant selection for the inaugural edition will be unveiled toward the end of 2025.
The guide currently operates in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar.
The guide is organized in partnership with the Culinary Arts Commission, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture. (AN/ Huda Bashatah)
The prestigious French guide began as a handy guidebook for Michelin tire customers in France in 1900. It was the brainchild of the Michelin brothers, who sought to “provide motorists traveling through France with all the useful information to supply their automobile, to fix it, where to sleep and eat, and which means exist to communicate, by mail, telegraph or telephone,” according to Christie’s auction house, which put a set of guides under the hammer in 2016.
The first edition saw almost 35,000 copies printed and contained useful information for motorists, including a list of hotels, groceries, bakeries, hardware stores and instructions on how to fix and change tires.
In 1931, ratings featured the current system of three stars for the first time, with the definitions becoming clear and definitive in 1933.
Although production of the guide was suspended during both world wars, the 1939 edition of the guide was reprinted by the US military in 1943, just before the June 6 invasion of Normandy the following year, as it was deemed the most up-to-date map available to the armed forces.
The push eastward is relatively recent, as until 2006, Michelin’s country guides only covered Europe.
