The most prestigious restaurant guide in the world, the one where a single star changes a restaurant's trajectory, is recognizing Indianapolis as a serious food city.

This is not a small thing for restaurants.

This is decades of chefs and restaurateurs and food culture builders getting the national validation that they've earned.

There is a catch, and we'll get to that in just a second.

So Michelin Guide is coming to Indianapolis for the first time.

It's part of a new Great Lakes Regional Guide, which includes Indianapolis, Detroit, Cleveland,

Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh. And, you know,

there's Michelin Stars. They are one of the most prestigious awards in food. It could bring

national attention and tourism to Indies food scene. Now, this is how it works. You have anonymous

inspectors. They're already visiting restaurants right now.

They come in and they have a meal at the restaurant and they decide how good the food and service and ambiance and vibe, all of it is.

And then the restaurant can earn between one and three Michelin Stars based on the quality.

The first selected Michelin Restaurant will be announced in 2027.

Here's the catch.

Whoa.

Okay.

Visit Indy has been partnering with Michelin for three years.

And they've been paying about $150,000 this last year to help launch it.

So you got to pay to play.

Well, I mean, isn't that truth with everything?

But yeah, these Michelin Stars for Restaurants, this is a big deal.

If you ever watch the TV show The Bear, that was a lot about this.

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