🗓 February 27, 2024: that's the date already chosen for the Michelin Red Guide gala evening to celebrate Portuguese gastronomy in Albufeira (Palais des Congrès NAU Salgados, Algarve).
The event will mark the publication of the very first edition of the Red Guide, dedicated exclusively to the best restaurants in Portugal. Until now, the Guide has been published jointly for Spain and Portugal.
🖥 Online, the Michelin Red Guide currently lists:
- 38 Bib Gourmand restaurants (awarded since 1997 to those offering the best value for money in terms of complete meals and simple, accessible cuisine), including 7 in Lisbon: Zunzum Gastrobar, Oficio, O Parreirinha, Solar dos Nunes, Carnal, O Frade, Arkhe.
- 30 restaurants with 1 Michelin star (a very good table in its category).
- 7 restaurants with 2 Michelin stars (excellent cuisine well worth the detour):
In the Algarve region: Ocean at the Vila Vita hotel complex in Porches, Vila Joya overlooking Galé beach.
In the Porto region: The Yeatman in Vila Nova de Gaia, Casa de Chá da Boa Nova in Leça da Palmeira.
On Madeira Island: Il Galo d'Oro in Funchal.
- 3 restaurants awarded the Michelin Green Star (which, since 2020, has encouraged sustainable, eco-responsible gastronomy): Herdade do Esporão in the Évora district, Mesa de Lemos in the Viseu district et Il Galo d'Oro in Madeira.
🚗 🛣 For the record, the Michelin Red Guide was launched in 1900:
- by André and Édouard Michelin, the brothers who founded the Michelin tire factory in Clermont-Ferrand (France),
- originally an advertising booklet, with a print run of 35,000 copies, offered to drivers with the purchase of tires to facilitate mobility,
- it included lists of garages and doctors, road maps, city maps and practical tips (for optimum vehicle maintenance).
- 1920: the Guide becomes a paying publication, with restaurants and hotels listed and classified.
- 1926: the first "bonne table" star is awarded, followed in 1931 by the 2nd and 3rd stars.
- 1933: creation of the profession of inspector - Michelin inspectors, employed by the Group, travel the roads in search of the best restaurants.
ℹ️ The French version of Michelin's Guide rouge currently sells around 30,000 copies (a 60% drop in sales in 10 years). Its direct competitor: Gault & Millau.