Famed food guideserves up new category - Michelin Plate

Washington

THE vaunted Michelin Guide is all about stars: Get three of them, the guide's top rating, and your career as a chef is set for life. Reservations at your restaurant will be impossible to get, and people will be willing to pay even more for your probably expensive tasting menu.

In 1955, the guide introduced a second designation. Bib Gourmand restaurants - indicated in the book with an icon of "Bibendum", the character also known as the Michelin Man - have been deemed a good value by Michelin inspectors. They are restaurants where you can get two courses and a glass of wine or a dessert for US$40 or less, excluding tax and tip.