First Pinellas restaurants join coveted Michelin Guide
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Florida chefs celebrate being recognized by Michelin. Photo: Jeff Weiner/Axios
No Tampa Bay restaurants were awarded stars Thursday by the famed Michelin Guide, though a fresh batch of eateries received its coveted recommendation.
Why it matters: Recognition by Michelin is seen as an international certification of excellence, putting restaurants and their cities on the worldwide culinary map.
Driving the news: In the first year that Pinellas restaurants were eligible for recognition, several were added to the guide at a ceremony Thursday night.
- Those were Fortu, Sushi Sho Rexley and Il Ritorno in St. Pete, and The Tides Market in Safety Harbor.
Inside the room: Four new stars were doled out to restaurants in Orlando and South Florida at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando.
- Hundreds of people in cocktail attire attended, packing a ballroom that offered hors d'oeuvre worthy of an event celebrating the state's best chefs.
- The event was hosted by WTSP host Java Ingram.
Zoom in: Stars weren't the only honors on offer. Tyler Wolff of Ponte Tampa was selected for Michelin's cocktail award.
- "I think that a lot of people are starting to combine both cocktails and culinary a lot more," he said, asked to reflect on how mixology is developing. "… A lot of people are trying new things and being super inventive."
Catch up quick: The guide expanded to Florida in 2022, becoming the fifth U.S. destination after New York, D.C., Chicago and California.
- At the time, only restaurants in Tampa, Orlando and Miami were eligible — because for your city to make Michelin, you have to pay up.
- Joining the guide this year are Pinellas County, Fort Lauderdale and the Palm Beaches.
How it works: Florida's tourism board and tourism agencies representing those cities spent nearly $1.5 million to bring Michelin to the Sunshine State.
- That includes about $116,000 per year for three years from Visit Tampa Bay, per the Tampa Bay Times.
- In February, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater signed a two-year contract to pay Michelin $90,000 a year for inclusion, Brian Lowack, the CEO of Pinellas' tourism agency, told Axios.
- Discover the Palm Beaches and Visit Lauderdale told Axios they are each paying $90,000 per year.