Yeah and like I said. Thousands of guides published under the exact same marketing idea. Not only didn’t become major culinary awards. But ceased to publish decades ago. Its odd to me that an advertisement has managed to persist so long, and has become so damn credible and exclusive.
At its start the guide was only published in France, and about France. In French. It stayed that way for approximately a decade. I find it hard to believe French people were wowed by it being French. English language editions and guides for non-France countries started about a decade after the first edition. But the Michelin guide was (and to certain extent still is) largely focused on the French market. So while there is some sheen from that, a French guide book about French food actually used by the French. It doesn’t necessarily bear on the way the guide has evolved. Shit even now they only really cover 8 countries, all of them in Europe. And 14 cities. And their frequently criticized for bias towards old school French Haute Cuisine along with its service style/standards.
I’m not confused by the idea of a advertorial travel guide. Neither am I bothered by a credible and well published one. What’s odd and unique about the Michelin guide. Is that the era of published, usable travel guides of that sort ended decades ago. The Michelin Stars and Bib Gourmand ratings pretty much exist independently of the guide at this point. Noone in 2017 is driving around with a Michelin guide in the glove box, navigating by its maps, and relying on it to avoid bad meals at restaurants and crap service at a hotel (its original purpose). Its now essentially a major culinary award. From a tire company. I find that odd.
Like wise I think you’ve got TechCrunch backwards. Noones navigating to that site because they happen to be in Silicon Valley. TechCrunch is in Silicon Valley because that’s where much of what they cover is happening, and where many of the people with the interest and expertise to cover it happen to be. That level of access tends to lead to a certain level of good, credible coverage. Just like you don’t see the best reviews of Broadway plays published by newspapers thousands of miles from Broadway.
