It's not like Oscar-it's not a physical thing. It's really an opinion. It's recognition." Elis,a 57-year-old American,supervises all editorial content for the guide as well as the awarding of star. He fell in love with France on a high-school trip when he was 16 years old and now lives in Paris with his France wife and 6-year-old son. he started as head of sales for Michelin's motorcycletire division-motorcycling being another of his passions.