Louisiana joins Michelin Guide to spotlight Southern cuisine

The Louisiana Office of Tourism announced earlier this month that Louisiana is joining six southern states to participate in the Michelin Guide American South to highlight the state’s diverse and authentic cuisine. This will be the first regional guide in North America.

The Michelin Guide awards stars the most coveted distinctions to highlight the high excellence of restaurants. One-Michelin-star rating means high quality food, worth a stop; two-Michelin-star rating means excellent food, worth a detour; and three Michelin stars are for restaurants with exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey. Additionally, the Bib Gourmand award recognises restaurants offering good quality food for a reasonable price.

“One of the many reasons people visit our great state is because of the food. We have some of the freshest seafood, and our Cajun and Creole cultures serve up dishes unique to Louisiana. It’s another way to feed your soul when you visit our great state,” said Doug Bourgeois, Assistant Secretary, Louisiana Office of Tourism.

Through this regional approach, Michelin is going beyond major cities to explore the region's authentic food culture. Travel South USA, the largest regional tourism promotion organisation, and participating state tourism offices will collaborate on marketing efforts to promote authentic southern cuisine to domestic and international travellers, as well as food enthusiasts.

“As we celebrate the ‘Year of Food,’ this is just one more way we can highlight how special our food, history, and culture are to the rest of the world. Louisiana is known as much for its culinary talent as it is known for its musical talent,” said Doug.

Other participating states include Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, in addition to the pre-existing Atlanta Guide.

The full 2025 restaurant selection will be revealed during the annual Michelin Guide Ceremony for the American South scheduled later this year.