France ups ante for food tourism with Michelin guide

France - the center of world gastronomy - wants to make its reputation for rude waiters a thing of the past.

More tourists visit France than any country in the world but the country is battling a reputation of giving them less than a warm welcome, especially in restaurants.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who is also in charge of tourism planning, on Monday introduced this year's Michelin guide to the country's best restaurants. The gala celebration of French cuisine underlined the message that France aims to cater to visitors who come for the food.