Michelin Guide Philippines, and first lap honors

Now that all the cheering and congratulatory posts messages have been posted, it may be time to look back at the entry of the Michelin Guide Philippines of Thursday, Oct. 30; and analyze what it truly can mean for us - whether there's a sound return on investment to anticipate, and how we can even measure this.

- PHILIP CU UNJIENG

THE MONEY SHOT of the Two-Star, and One-Star restaurant-owners/chefs, with DOT Secretary Christina Frasco and Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide.

But first, kudos to the Department of Tourism and Secretary Frasco for embarking on this in the first place, fast-tracking it, and putting the Philippines on the proverbial "global culinary map." While the Michelin Guide has been around for 125 years, one cannot dispute how it still holds sway as an arbiter of culinary excellence via its awarding of stars, how the Bib Gourmand signifies high-quality, yet affordable dining, and its selected list recognizes quality dining that's on the cusp of earning a higher distinction. For countless travellers to the countries where the guide exists, it's a go-to for where to dine, recognizing diversity in price points, and consistency in quality.

And congratulations to our dining and restaurant industry; the fact that 108 establishments earned distinctions of some kind is indeed a worthy accomplishment. Seventy-four made it to the selected list, 25 earned Bib Gourmand ratings, eight earned one star, and one was the sole two star recipient. For a maiden year, that is something to be very proud about. In the 2024 edition of the Michelin Guide Kuala Lumpur and Penang, there were 127 restaurants recognized.