Educational Media Reviews Online

This behind-the-scenes look at nine restaurants and their chefs which have been awarded the Michelin Guide highest honor of three stars is sure to please food lovers everywhere. Although the Michelin is based in France, the restaurants are international in geographic location. Even the languages in this film show international flavor: English, German, Dutch, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, and French; English subtitles are provided.

Viewers hungry to see how a famous restaurant operates will appreciate the look into the kitchens, dining rooms, offices, and wine cellars of these restaurateurs. In different spaces—old houses, hotels, fancy buildings—the featured chefs are shown giving orders, talking with guests and staff, talking to the camera. And beyond the restaurant space, viewers follow along as the chefs meet with their farm producers or visit markets. In addition, the head of Michelin Guides explains the significance of the stars, what Michelin testers do, and what their rating is and is not based on.

The visuals in this documentary are superb. The beauty of the food, the service, and the dining rooms brings home how three star restaurants are different. That the filmmaker captured the nuances of nine different restaurants and their chefs, and viewers can see the differences in personalities and work styles makes for a rewarding viewing experience.

Besides the food and the award, important issues such as finances and profit margins, the importance of wine, the science of food, and chefs as celebrities are also brought up.

This film is definitely geared for foodies, and will be useful to culinary students. Public and academic libraries should consider purchasing for interested patrons or academic programs.

DVD extras include Chef Biographies and About the Filmmaker, which consist of text and a small photo in each case.