Julia Donovan
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado Springs could soon find itself on one of the culinary world’s most prestigious lists.
The Michelin Guide is expected to announce its Colorado selections next Monday, Sept. 14, potentially marking the first time restaurants in Colorado Springs receive recognition from the famed dining guide. KRDO13 spoke with local food critic and journalist Matt Schniper about what the Michelin Guide’s arrival could mean for the local food scene.
Why is Colorado Springs eligible now?
According to Schniper, Colorado Springs and most of the rest of Colorado were not previously part of Michelin’s inspection territory because the necessary tourism funding had not been in place.
“In the previous years it was only Denver and some of the mountain towns that had paid to be considered,” Schniper said.
This year, Colorado tourism organizations and communities contributed together, allowing Michelin to send inspectors across the state for consideration.
“For the first time, because everyone ponied up together, they had enough money to basically send Michelin inspectors statewide,” Schniper said.
That means Colorado Springs restaurants are now potentially in the running alongside restaurants in Denver and Colorado’s mountain communities.
Who decides which restaurants get a Michelin star?
One of the biggest mysteries surrounding the process is where Michelin’s inspectors actually dine.
“We don’t know,” Schniper said. “The inspectors are anonymous. They will not tell you where they’ve been.”
That secrecy makes it impossible to know for certain which Colorado Springs restaurants were evaluated, if any.
“We can’t even say that they conclusively came to Colorado Springs,” Schniper said. “We can only assume, since we’re the second largest market [in Colorado], that they did come here.”
The anonymous nature of the inspections adds an element of mystery to the upcoming announcement.
“It’s kind of cloak and dagger,” Schniper said.
Which Colorado Springs restaurants could be recognized?
While nobody outside Michelin knows which restaurants will make the cut, Schniper said one local name stands out as a speculative favorite: The Broadmoor.
The Broadmoor already holds five-star and five-diamond designations, which Schniper said demonstrate the resort’s ability to maintain high standards.
Another restaurant and chef he believes could attract Michelin’s attention is Four by Brother Luck.
Schniper pointed to Luck’s TV appearances on Top Chef and Beat Bobby Flay, as factors that could put the restaurant on Michelin’s radar.
Still, Schniper said he’s hoping the eventual list has some unexpected names on it.
“I hope there’s some surprises,” he said.
Michelin recognition isn’t just about stars
Even if a Colorado Springs restaurant doesn’t receive a Michelin star, there are other forms of recognition that could come with the guide’s statewide debut.
Schniper noted that Michelin also awards Bib Gourmand distinctions, which recognize restaurants offering good food at a good value.
The guide also includes Michelin Recommended restaurants, which gives recognition to restaurants that may be more approachable than traditional Michelin-starred destinations.
“I think we have a handful that could be recommended,” Schniper said.
When will we know?
The Michelin Guide’s Colorado selections are expected to be announced Monday, Sept. 14.
KRDO13 will have an update when the guide drops, including whether any restaurants in Colorado Springs or elsewhere in Southern Colorado receive a Michelin star or other Michelin recognition.
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