“The Michelin Guides are consistent; one star in Dubai equals one star in Paris” Michelin Guides’ Gwendal Poullennec debunks urban legends surrounding the iconic restaurant guide

The Michelin Guides recently announced the launch of a new Dubai guide (the first Michelin Guide in the Middle East) in June 2022. Hashem and his co-host Samantha Wood aka FooDiva sit down with Gwendal Poullennec, the Guides’ International Director. Over coffee and shakshouka, Hashem and Samantha ask a tight-lipped Poullennec their most pressing questions to contextualize and debunk some of the most common urban legends surrounding this heritage ‘award’ which dates back to 1900. Among them: what are the criteria of awarding a star; are Michelin inspectors all tall and skinny; how many meals do inspectors eat every day and what makes Dubai’s culinary scene stand out?

Links:

• Episode: MENA’s 50Best restaurants with Claudia de Brito and Samantha Wood
• The Michelin Guide is coming to Dubai
• FooDiva: Is Dubai ready for Michelin (2012)
• The Man Who Changed the Way We Eat: Craig Claiborne and the American Food Renaissance
• WSJ: Is Dubai the next great food destination
• FooDiva: There is no such thing as a Michelin Chef (2017)
• Episode: Debra Kletter on creating magical ‘food experiences’ for her clients
• Episode: FooDiva AKA Samantha Wood on her restaurant review process