The Income of a Michelin Starred Chef

In the cooking and kitchen industry, there are lots of standards that one should acknowledge to be able to understand everything that’s happening in the food scene. Being up-to-date with the latest trends and news in the world of chefs and kitchen is great, but what’s better is figuring your way around the terminologies and the degrees of standards that professional chefs follow. While your cooking skills must be on point, you still have to pay attention to the other big factors in the field: what we’re talking about is the Michelin stars.

It’s an understatement that a cook with the ultimate restaurant dream should train and learn as much as he or she can learn in the world of cuisines, but it’s definitely true. In addition to this, one must be aware of how they can manage to attract critiques into going to their food place and see if they’re worthy enough to earn even one star. One of the highest standards in the industry comes from Michelin. Only those who have gathered positive feedback from Michelin critics’ strict observations and adventurous taste buds have proven themselves to be a Michelin Star Chef. But what does it even mean? How important is it to be recognized as one? How does the system work? Who are the chefs in the world that have these stars? And most importantly, what is the salary of a Michelin star chef?

What is Michelin?

As mentioned, Michelin is the most famous company that sets a high standard among restaurant businesses by rating them with stars. It’s been known to stand as the benchmark of the ultimate fine-dining quality that a restaurant owner works to accomplish. You may have probably heard of world-famous food places that boast of their Michelin stars; this means that they have managed to pass through the tests of Michelin’s top critics. The company hands over the honorable and prestigious award to deserving restaurants through stars. But what does each star mean, and what does it take to get them?

Michelin uses a 0-3 star system in order to evaluate nominated restaurants. While the overall look of Michelin’s rating system is somewhat similar to Yelp or Zagat, it’s very different when it comes to the inner criteria that are considered. Michelin reviewers mainly focus on the value and consistency of the food being served in the restaurant. The chef is also graded based on his mastery, personality, quality, and techniques he presents through his dishes. The definitions of the stars are as follows:

One Star: This means that the place is a great restaurant in its specific category; the restaurant serves consistently high-quality dishes.
Two Stars: This means that the restaurant deserves a detour and that it offers excellent cuisine with excellent craftsmanship on the dishes.
Three Stars: This means that the restaurant reaches its highest peak, and it deserves a special journey. The cuisine is brilliant, and the dishes are prepared with superb ingredients, and the execution of the chef is outstanding.

The tricky part in this, though, is that the Michelin reviewers don’t make an announcement for their visit, and they do whatever it takes to stay anonymous. This way, the chef can be graded and critiqued based on his performance and food preparation regularly.

How did Michelin Start?

From the supremely high standards that Michelin considers before awarding the most coveted stars in the industry, would you believe that it’s actually a tire company? Founders Andre Michelin and Edouard Michelin published the first Michelin Guide in 1900; this is to make a buzz around their tire business. Back then, the amount of automobile users in France was too low to keep the tire business going. The brothers created the Michelin Guide, which contains maps, basic instructions on changing and repairing tires, and a list of gas stations, repair mechanics, hotels, and restaurants in famous routes in the country. From there, Michelin’s ratings have come to be more and more significant in the industry.

How Many Chefs Have Michelin Stars?

With the number of popular chefs with world-class skills and techniques in the kitchen, it’s not a surprise that many of them have earned Michelin stars. Currently, there are about 159 Michelin star chefs in the world with 1 star. These honorable chefs include Ben Wilkinson (head chef at The Cottage in the Wood), Simon Martin (chef owner of Mana), Chris Cleghorn (head chef at Olive Tree), and Angel Zapata Martin (executive chef at Barrafina).

For the 2-star category, there are currently 23 holders of 2 Michelin stars in the world; these excellent chefs include Clare Smyth (chef-patron at Core), Patrick Guilbald (chef owner of Restaurant Patrick Guilbald), Mickael Viljanen (head chef at The Greenhouse, Dublin), and James Knappett (chef patron at Kitchen Table at Bubbledogs).

Lastly, the most prestigious rating is the 3 Michelin stars because only five chefs have these in the world. These five best chefs in the world are Gordon Ramsay (owner of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay), Heston Blumenthal (owner of The Fat Duck), Pierre Gagnaire (owner of Sketch), Alain Roux (owner of The Water Side Inn), and Alain Ducasse (owner of Alain Ducasse at Dorchester).

What is the Salary of a Michelin Star Chef

Finally, we reach this section to learn how much the approximate salary of a chef who earned Michelin stars. According to analytics, an average Michelin star chef earns about $69,643 per year. But generally, the answer to this question depends on the type of chef who’s awarded with the stars and the kind of restaurant they’re running; the origin country and specific location of the food place also come into play as a factor.

Conclusion

Having a Michelin star on a restaurant doesn’t stop there; critics will return to the place to ensure that the chefs maintain the consistency and quality of their food. Michelin can take out a star if they found out that the food business doesn’t perform its best on a regular basis. If you’re dreaming of earning your first Michelin star, serve each one of your customers as if they’re all critics.