Needless to say, I am honestly surprised. Not because I do not trust the Italian Hotellerie. Simply speaking, to win this kind of competition led by Michelin Guide looks like to win a rugby match in Paris.
Anyway, let’s have a toast (with our Italian Spumante!) and let’s honour the fair play of the ‘only guide that counts’, as Paul Bocuse, one of the Father’s of the Nouvelle Cuisine, declared in the 1960.
So lets sum up the final result. Italy first with 224 hotels quoted, France second with 220. Bronze medal to Great Britain at 131 keys and fourth Germany at 130 keys.
If we consider ‘worlwide players’ USA leads the ranking. With a little doubt though. Their massive (official) covering of publishing costs faced by Michelin (as quoted by Wikipedia).
Among the new countries evaluated, we find Armenia, Benin, Botswana, Kazahstan, Liechtenstein, Mongolia, Myanmar, Ruanda, Slovakia and Zimbabwe.
Going back to Italy, 34 hotels received 1 key, 6 two keys and 4 three keys. The real zenith of the excellence. Firenze, Amalfi, Portofino e Venezia the 4 hosting locations.
— Ettore Bellucci