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February 28, 2025 | 4:33pm
MANILA, Philippines — Culinary guide book series the Michelin Guide will be heading to the Philippines for the first time, with restaurants in Greater Manila and Cebu vying to become the first local establishments to be included in the inaugural selection.
The selected restaurants will be revealed at the end of the year, covering areas near Metro Manila including Pampanga, Tagaytay, and Cavite, as well as Cebu.
Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guides, previously shared that independent, anonymous inspectors have already been deployed to identify which establishments will be recognized.
The arrival of the Michelin Guide in the Philippines is backed by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, whose family hails from Cebu.
The guide was created in 1900 by the Michelin tire company to support the growth of automobile mobility and has since helped individuals highlight global culinary scenes.
Related: Michelin Guide arrives in Greater Manila, Cebu for 2026 selection
The historic method the guide uses for each selection to ensure consistency is based on five universal criteria:
- Quality of ingredients
- Mastery of cooking techniques
- Harmony of flavors
- Personality of the cuisine
- Consistency, both over time and through the menu as a whole
The most famous distinction from the Michelin Guide are the coveted Michelin Stars, given to restaurants that offer the best culinary experiences.
One Star is for "high-quality cooking that is worth a stop," two Stars are for "excellent cooking that is worth a detour," and three Stars are for "exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey."
Restaurant selection also includes the Bib Gourmand category, awarded to restaurants that provide good quality food at a moderate price.
Related: Filipino restaurant Kasama recognized with Michelin star
While the Michelin Guide is about to officially debut in the Philippines, there is already a Filipino restaurant with a Michelin Star.
Kasama, based in Chicago, United States, was honored with a prestigious Star back in 2022 after just two years of operations. The Filipino restaurant and bakery managed by husband and wife Timothy Flores and Genie Kwon, both chefs and former members of the Oriole kitchen, serves contemporary Filipino dishes and pastries.
Michelin recognized at the time Kasama's evolution to "represent the true vision of what the couple had in mind... with a dinner tasting menu that emphatically displays this talented team's training, experience and heritage for an experience that is ambitious, clever, and distinct."
Some of the dishes Michelin mentioned in their acknowledgement were Kasama's Maitake Mushroom Adobo sauced with mussel emulsion, Pancit with thin squid ink noodles, shaved Serrano ham, and Kwon's version of Halo-Halo using Asian pear granita and pandan ice cream.
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