The Michelin Guide announced Wednesday it will expand its awards to the entire state of Colorado.

The acclaimed restaurant guide was first introduced to Colorado in 2023 but limited to the cities of Denver, Boulder, Aspen, Snowmass Village, Vail and Beaver Creek Resort. It was brought with the financial support of the Colorado Tourism Office and the tourism agencies for those cities.

Cities like Aurora and Colorado Springs had not paid into the Michelin Guide and restaurants within their boundaries were not previously inspected — but now are eligible.

The state’s dining scene has continued to evolve and compete on the world stage, said Gwendal Poullennec, the Michelin Guide’s international director, in a news release. Last year, The Wolf’s Tailor earned the state its first two-star restaurant.

“We look forward to continuing to discover and promote dining establishments across the state, going beyond the main urban areas,” Poullennec said.

Getting a Michelin star is among the highest honors in the culinary world. Michelin inspectors use a criteria to evaluate quality of products, cooking techniques, flavor, how the food showcases the personality of the chef and consistency across the menu.

Following the announcement, Visit Aurora said the city’s globally-inspired dining scene is at the “forefront” of the expansion.

The local tourism agency mentioned establishments on Havana Street and Stanley Marketplace’s restaurants like Annette have helped shape the city into a dining destination — and hopefully a Michelin award can help newcomers discover Aurora’s vibrant culture too.

“We recognize the mission behind the Michelin Guide and the value it brings to the entire state,” said Bruce Dalton, CEO of Visit Aurora, in a press release. “It inspires travelers to explore differently and to eat their way through cities they may not have considered before.”

The head of Denver’s tourism agency Visit Denver, Richard Scharf, welcomed the expansion of the guide and said Michelin has helped the city grow its culinary reputation.

“We know that travelers, whether for leisure or business, domestic or international, rank culinary offerings as a priority when making decisions on where to visit and Michelin recognition is the signal to many that Denver has a diverse range of cuisine styles and price points from talented restaurant teams, benefitting from the work of our local farmers and ranchers,” CEO Scharf said in a statement.

Michelin highlighted 32 restaurants across the state in the latest Colorado guide.

“Like any good dinner party, the more, the merrier!” Scharf added. “We look forward to celebrating with the rest of the state later this year.”