03/06/2024
The original Michelin Man, known as "Bibendum," was created in 1898 and was depicted as a stack of white tires, which matched the natural color of rubber at the time.
The shift to black tires happened in 1912 when carbon was added to improve their durability, not for aesthetic reasons.
Michelin started reviewing restaurants to encourage people to travel more, thus wearing out their tires and needing replacements sooner. The Michelin star system rates restaurants up to three stars based on the following criteria:
- **1 star**: "A very good restaurant in its category."
- **2 stars**: "Excellent cooking, worth a detour."
- **3 stars**: "Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey."