What The Michelin Star System Means For Louisiana Dining

(KMDL-FM) In almost every conversation you have with someone in or about Louisiana, food comes up. It's part of our heritage, and it's not just a means of survival. Food lives in the hearts and souls of those who call Louisiana home. The Michelin Guide, the food industry's "Bible" for good eating, has recognized 40 Louisiana restaurants that take our state's passion for food to a whole new level.

In many cases, our foods and recipes are connected directly to the land and sea, which first provided the ingredients that the first Louisiana residents used to create the iconic dishes that our state is known for far and wide. The Michelin Guide honors those cooks, chefs, and culinary creators for their unique takes on traditional and non-traditional favorites from Louisiana.

What Do Michelin Stars Really Mean for a Restaurant?

According to the Michelin Guide, Louisiana has four "Starred" restaurants. The star system breaks down this way, and we are paraphrasing. A one-star restaurant is very good. It uses top-quality ingredients and serves dishes with consistent flavors. It is considered "worth a stop" if you're visiting a particular area.

A two-star restaurant, according to Michelin, is a restaurant that offers exceptional food that reflects the chef's personality, and the dishes allow the talent of that chef to shine through. These restaurants are considered to be "worth a detour" according to the Michelin Guide.

A restaurant that earns three Michelin stars has earned the guide's highest honor. The cuisine is less of a meal and more of an art form. The restaurants often feature signature dishes that become legendary over time. These are the places the Michelin Guide deems "worthy of a special trip".

Which Louisiana Restaurants Have Michelin Stars?

In Louisiana, Emeril's in New Orleans is a two-star establishment, while Saint-Germain and Zasu, both in the Crescent City, have earned one star in the Michelin Guide. Dakar NOLA a Senegalase themed restaurant also was awareded a Michelin star. What are the other restaurants that earned a Michelin honor? You can see all 40 of them right here.

Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for NYCWFF

It's interesting to note that Michelin Stars are not just handed out to "ritzy and famous" places. I have eaten at a Michelin-starred food stall in a hawker center in Singapore that offered some of the best chicken and rice I have ever had. So, don't let looks deceive you.

And don't let what some critic says about what's good deter you from trying something or someplace new. If you'd like to see a list of places we like, and you're trying to stay on your budget, give these places a try.

Acadiana Date Night on a Budget - 10 Places Lafayette Locals Love

Keeping romance alive is hard. Especially if both partners are working, there are kids involved, and the amount of money coming into the household doesn't buy what it used to buy. Sound familiar? We curated our list based on your suggestions via social media, and we also factored in reviews left on sites like TripAdvisor and Yelp! The result is 10 different options, and they are so vastly different that you and your dearly beloved could enjoy them on a "date night" and feel as if you've been on a romantic journey, you know, like you used to do in the time BK, before kids.

Gallery Credit: Bruce Mikells