Michelin Guide will reveal South region winners this November
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Michelin 2025 restaurant and hotel guide ceremony on April 28, 2025. Photo: Hatim Kaghat/Belga/AFP via Getty Images
The Michelin Guide will host the inaugural American South Ceremony on Nov. 3 in Greenville, S.C.
Why it matters: Michelin Guide Inspectors have been scoping out restaurants in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, which encompass the Guide's first new regional selection since its North American debut in 2005.
Driving the news: The ceremony will reveal which restaurants in the South region will receive Michelin stars and other top honors from The Michelin Guide.
- It will take place at the Peace Center in downtown Greenville and it's invite-only.
What they're saying: "South Carolina is home to southern staples, fresh seafood and a homegrown culinary community full of passion and innovation, making it the perfect place to celebrate the region's culinary talents," said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide.
- "Our anonymous Inspectors look forward to finally sharing their discoveries with the world," she added.
The big picture: A Michelin star is one of the culinary world's top honors, and state tourism boards paid top dollar to bring the Guides to the South.
- Cities and states across the South will collectively contribute $1.65 million per year under a three-year contract to bring the Michelin Guide to the region, according to records obtained by Axios New Orleans.
Zoom in: North Carolina tourism offices will pay $345,000 annually over multiple years for the chance to be included in the Michelin Guide's expansion into the South, Axios' Alex Sands previously reported.
What's next: During the Nov. 3 ceremony, Michelin Guide will honor restaurants with one, two and three Michelin Stars, which identifies "establishments serving exceptional cuisine that's rich in flavor, remarkably executed and infused with the personality of a talented chef," according to their guidelines.
- Some restaurants will receive a Bib Gourmand, which is a "designation given to select restaurants that offer good quality food for a good value."
- Others will receive the Michelin Green Star, which "honors restaurants that are pioneers in sustainable gastronomy."
Go deeper: With Michelin's Southern expansion, tourism boards made restaurant recommendations