Gourmet Secrets by Karen Anand: What’s making Spain a food lover’s paradise?

So what makes a great restaurant? Well, I would say, a great dining experience. No matter what everyone says about the ambience and service and tablecloths, ultimately it’s the food which is the defining factor. Over the past century, the two bodies that seem to define culinary excellence and which are taken seriously the world over are the Michelin guide and the relatively recent World’s 50 Best. The Michelin guide with a red cover is the oldest European hotel and restaurant reference guide, which awards up to three Michelin stars for excellence. One star is “A very good restaurant in its category”, two is “Excellent cooking, worth a detour”, three is “Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey”.