Today, representatives from MICHELIN Guide visited Toronto to announce that the city would become the first MICHELIN Guide destination in Canada and the sixth in North America.
Mayor John Tory was joined by representatives from MICHELIN, Destination Toronto, Destination Ontario and Destination Canada at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, 60 Yorkville Ave. for this exciting announcement.
As one of the most multicultural cities in the world, Toronto’s culinary scene is as diverse as the city itself. With international foods, café-lined streets, fine dining and high-end cuisine, Toronto’s culinary depth receives the global attention it deserves and will soon become a global dining destination.
The first step in the MICHELIN Guide coming to Toronto was taken before the pandemic, when MICHELIN completed a full destination assessment of Toronto’s culinary scene. MICHELIN retains complete autonomy regarding the restaurants assessed and the outcome of those assessments; the destination does not have input.
MICHELIN inspectors will now be discovering Toronto’s culinary cuisine over the coming months.
The Toronto MICHELIN Guide is another opportunity to energize recovery for a sector that has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic caused restaurants to grapple with higher debts, labour shortages, supply chain interruptions and closures. As the global health situation improves and restrictions continue to lift, the announcement of the Guide signifies a celebration and a return to dining and travel.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Toronto has been focused on delivering programs to help drive business to local restaurants, protecting jobs and contributing to the growth and sustainability of the restaurant industry workforce and the entire food value chain. With the continuation of CaféTO, the return of Summerlicious and the expansion of Amplified Music on Outdoor Patios programs, the City and its residents can support the recovery and revival of Toronto’s restaurant scene, while enjoying the diverse food that the City has to offer.
More information about CaféTO is available here
More information about Summerlicious is available on the City’s Summerlicious webpage
More information about Amplified Live Music on Patios is also available on toronto.ca
Quotes:
“This is an exciting moment for our city as Toronto will become the first MICHELIN Guide destination in Canada. This further bolsters our reputation as a world destination for food and cuisine. Our diverse city along with the many renowned chefs who call Toronto home have helped us get to this point and to be able to showcase all of the wonderful restaurants. A big thank you to everyone who has made this possible: MICHELIN, Destination Toronto, Destination Ontario and Destination Canada. While we await the guide, I encourage Toronto residents to continue supporting and celebrating the revival of Toronto restaurants by dining in locally to sample the diverse culinary offerings our restaurants have to offer.”
– Mayor John Tory
“Besides the city’s global reputation as a destination to visit for business or pleasure, Toronto is also known as a global culinary destination. It is a place where businesses want to invest and a city that continues to attract global talent. I look forward to seeing how many restaurants are included in the overall selection, and who receives stars.”
– Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson (Scarborough Centre), Chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee
“Toronto’s culinary scene is as diverse as the city itself, and MICHELIN Guide Toronto is the perfect way to celebrate our culinary community. It will be a powerful way to share our culinary capabilities with new audiences from around the world. We’re so proud to partner with Michelin and our destination partners Destination Ontario and Destination Canada, to bring the MICHELIN Guide to Canada for the first time.”
– Scott Beck, President & CEO of Destination Toronto
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Media contact: Media Relations, media@toronto.ca