Michelin is planning to launch its first restaurant guide in the USA.

The 2006 Michelin Guide to New York City will hit the shelves in November 2005 and rate 500 restaurants and 50 hotels across the Big Apple.

Edouard Michelin, president of the Michelin Group, said that the move was in response to "strong demand from its readers".

Inspectors have been anonymously visiting restaurants and hotels in the city since the autumn of 2004. This month sees the start of pre-arranged full inspections alongside managers at the different venues.

All New York boroughs will be included in the guide, with Manhattan sub-divided into neighbourhoods. The prestigious 80-year-old star rating system will be used.

The Michelin guide is currently published in 12 editions covering Western Europe.

Tom Bill

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