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Hard: Upper intermediate level and above, B2 and above 

Introduction

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1      What do rubber tyres have to do with delicious food? The answer lies in the story of the Michelin brothers. French inventors Edouard and Andre Michelin created the Michelin tyre company in 1889 and transformed the travel industry. A few decades later, they began publishing a guide to highlight food in restaurants worth travelling for, which, of course, they'd need strong Michelin tyres to reach. Nowadays, the coveted Michelin star – an award given to only the world's finest restaurants – is one of the culinary world's highest accolades. But the rating system is somewhat shrouded in mystery. 

2  The Michelin Guide itself says their inspectors take into account five criteria: the quality of the ingredients, the harmony of flavours, the mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine and consistency both across the entire menu and over time. But the inspectors are anonymous, and chefs are always kept in the dark about when they are going to visit. "We're never aware of the inspectors' visit," said Julia Sedefdjian, who became France's youngest Michelin-starred chef at the age of 21. "If they introduce themselves, it's only after they've eaten. And often – very often – they never introduce themselves at all."

3  And how much does the overall ambience of a restaurant play into the ratings? Ideas vary. Chef Maxime Bouttier, who has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants across France for 15 years, thinks details like white tablecloths and background piano music can help to tick boxes for inspectors. Despite this, Bouttier's own restaurant doesn't have tablecloths, and his clientele listen to '80s rap while dining, yet his restaurant earnt a star less than a year after opening. The Michelin Guide says a Michelin star is awarded for the food on the plate, nothing else, and that the style and degree of formality haveno bearing on the award whatsoever.

4  Michelin stars can make or break a chef's culinary career. Earning one gives a chef more recognition, more table bookings and can allow them to raise their prices. But there's also the risk of losing one, and with that comes a lot of pressure. 

Questions

1.   Read the article and answer the question. 

Which paragraph discusses the atmosphere of a restaurant?

2.    Choose the correct option based on the content of the article.

1. The Michelin brothers created a restaurant guide and then created a tyre business.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

2. Michelin stars are given to 300 restaurants per year.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

3. What makes the Michelin star rating system mysterious?
a. The Michelin Guide doesn't share their scoring criteria.
b. The inspectors don't say when they are going to visit the restaurant.
c. Chefs never find out who the inspectors are.

4. Chef Maxime Bouttier's restaurant has white tablecloths and piano music playing.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

5. What does 'one' refer to in the following sentence in paragraph 4? Earning one gives a chef more recognition, more table bookings and can allow them to raise their prices.
a. a culinary career
b. a Michelin star
c. a plate of food

3.    Use the words in the list to complete the summary of the article.

The Michelin star is a(n) 1) ________ that many chefs desire, but how they are awarded is 2) ________. Inspectors 3) ________ factors such as the quality of ingredients and the mastery of techniques – it has nothing 4) ________ the style or degree of formality of the restaurant. If chefs want recognition for their 5) ________ skills, one way to do that is to earn a Michelin star.bound to

culinary
kept in the dark
take into account
to do with 
accolade
harmony
shrouded in mystery 

Vocabulary

to do with (something)
related to (something)  

coveted
wanted by many

accolade
praise or award   

be shrouded in mystery
not be very well understood   

take (something) into account
consider (something) when thinking about a situation   

harmony
how well things work together

keep (someone) in the dark
not tell someone something   

play into (something)
contribute to or help support   

have no bearing
are not relevant  

make or break
make something a success or failure   

Answers

1.    Read the article and answer the question.

Which paragraph discusses the atmosphere of a restaurant?

Paragraph 3. And how much does the overall ambience of a restaurant play into the ratings?

2.    Choose the correct option based on the content of the article. 

1. b. False. The Michelin brothers created a tyre business and then created a restaurant guide.

2. c.Not given. How many Michelin stars are given is not mentioned in the article.

3. b.Chefs are always kept in the dark about when they are going to visit. 

4. b. False.Bouttier's own restaurant doesn't have tablecloths, and his clientele listen to '80s rap while dining.

5. b. 'One' refers to back to the previous sentence. 'Michelin stars can make or break a chef's culinary career.'

3.    Use the words in the list to complete the summary of the article.

The Michelin star is an accolade that many chefs desire, but how they are awarded is shrouded in mystery. Inspectors take into account factors such as the quality of ingredients and the mastery of techniques – it has nothing to do with the style or degree of formality of the restaurant. If chefs want recognition for their culinary skills, one way to do that is to earn a Michelin star.  

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