Prestigious Travel Guide Searching Louisiana for Culinary Stars

(KMDL-FM) Louisiana food is legendary. In fact, it was just announced this week that Food Network Star and self-absorbed chef Guy Fieri was in the state with his hit show Diners Drive-Ins and Dives spotlighting some of his funky finds here in The Boot.

If you want to see which Louisiana locations will be getting the “Triple D Effect” you can do that right here. And if you’re not familiar with the Triple D Effect, it’s real. The bump in popularity an eatery receives from such massive publicity can change the course of the business for years.

But long before cooking became a competitive sport on television there was a way that travelers could verify and ensure that the meal they were about to have in a faraway city or foreign land was “up to snuff”. It was a simple travel guidebook put out by the folks at Michelin.

You’d think the folks at Michelin would know a thing or two about travel they make Michelin Tires. So yes, one of the most respected names in food is also one of the most respected names in food. The guide came about as a way to encourage people to drive more. So, it all makes sense.

What hasn’t made sense is the fact that Louisiana and its bevy of amazing restaurants have seldom been featured in the Michelin Guide Books. That was until now. The folks at Michelin are not only perusing Louisiana eateries but other interesting dining spots here in the Gulf South.

The new Michelin Guide American South will focus on food from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee. The contents of who is in and who got how many stars will be revealed by Michelin at the annual Michelin Guide Ceremony.

I can tell you this, if any place in your hometown earns Michelin Stars, that place will suddenly become very popular with tourists from around the world. And what makes the Michelin Guide so amazing to me as a traveler is that it doesn’t focus on “gourmet” and “expensive” offerings. One of the best five-star Michelin meals I ever had was a plate of rice and chicken served in Singapore. The total cost of the meal? It was less than $3.

I believe the new Michelin Guide American South will be a game changer for Louisiana restaurants. I just hope they get the whole “honesty in seafood labeling” issue worked out before all of these guests from other lands start lining up for meals.