The ultimate stamp of excellence in the restaurant industry is coming to Colorado.
The company behind the Michelin Guide announced today that Colorado is now just the sixth Michelin Guide destination in the United States and the eighth in North America. The other regions that have sparked Michelin’s interest are New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, California, Miami/Orlando/Tampa, Toronto and Vancouver.
“Colorado has a rich culinary community that includes both established, notable chefs and innovative up-and-comers. Their restaurant teams are committed to using a wide range of high-quality ingredients, sourced locally and sustainably, with farm-to-table dining being a particular highlight,” according to Michelin’s statement. “Colorado’s mountainous terrain has influenced its culinary landscape, with many restaurants offering dishes inspired by the state’s outdoor lifestyle. Colorado’s gastronomy is influenced by German, Hispanic and Native American cultures; the state is home to several Native American tribes, including the Ute, Navajo and Apache.”
As a result, restaurants around the state better be on their A-game. The anonymous Guide inspectors are already visiting spots in Denver, Boulder, Aspen and Snowmass Village, Vail and Beaver Creek Resort, according to the French tire company that produces the guides. The first Michelin Guide Colorado selection will be revealed later in 2023.
These “famously anonymous” inspectors award Michelin Stars – one, two or three – based on five criteria: the quality of the ingredients, the harmony of flavors, the mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine and consistency both across the entire menu and over time, according to Michelin.
The Guide, which covers more than 15 countries around the world, is also “renowned for its Bib Gourmand selection, highlighting restaurants that offer great quality food at good prices, as well as hotel selections, which will also now feature unique places to stay around Colorado.”
“We are thrilled to partner with the Michelin Guide to highlight the exceptional cuisine, sustainability efforts and innovation of the culinary industry in Colorado,” said Timothy Wolfe, Director of the Colorado Tourism Office, in a statement. “Colorado residents have long enjoyed the expanding food scene of our incredibly talented chefs, who bring locally harvested ingredients to life. The Michelin Guide will further elevate Colorado as a global dining destination, serving a variety of flavors with the authentically friendly attitude that can only be found in Colorado.”