"New Orleans has always been a beacon of culinary excellence, and the arrival of the Michelin Guide brings an exciting opportunity to showcase our city's vibrant food scene on a global scale," says Serigne Mbaye, who worked in Michelin-starred restaurants before opening Dakar NOLA.

The Michelin Guide today announced that it will begin assessing and ranking restaurants in New Orleans and around Louisiana for the first time. Rankings, including potentially its coveted Michelin Stars,

The Michelin Guide is touring restaurants throughout the Southern U.S. and is set to compile a list of the best eateries later this year.