Michelin: From Tires to Stars

In 1900, there were fewer than 3,000 cars in France. Brothers André and Édouard Michelin had a tire business and a problem: people needed reasons to drive.

A free little red book

Their answer was a free guide full of maps, mechanics, fuel stations and places to eat and sleep along the way. The more people drove, the more tires they'd wear out.

The birth of the stars

By 1926 the guide began awarding stars to fine dining restaurants, and in 1931 the famous three-star system arrived: one star for "a very good restaurant", three for "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey".

In the full documentary, we follow the anonymous inspectors, the pressure of the stars, and how a marketing trick became the world's most famous culinary award.