Danish restaurant Noma has just regained its title as The S.Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurant. After nine years on the list and three consecutive wins in 2010, 2011 and 2012, Noma celebrated once again as it returned to the coveted No.1 position. The results were announced at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, in London on 28 April.
Noma and chef-owner René Redzepi
Noma chef-owner René Redzepi is recognised for his highly original, sometimes visceral version of new Nordic cuisine. His food strives to reflect the Danish landscape and culture with signature dishes such as ‘Blackcurrant Berries and Roses’. Redzepi’s meticulous attention to detail, innovative approach to foraging, and experimentation with fermentation – all driven by passion and a relentless curiosity – has once again brought his restaurant to the pinnacle.
Spain and El Celler de Can Roca
Spain’s El Celler de Can Roca moves to the No.2 spot with plenty to celebrate with Jordi Roca winning the inaugural title of The World’s Best Pastry Chef, sponsored by Cacao Barry®. Jordi is known for his creativity and irreverence when it comes to desserts; his vision matched by incredible skill and precision.
Spain has seven restaurants on the list, three of which are in the top ten. Mugaritz is now at No.6, with fellow San Sebastian establishment Arzak remaining at No.8. New entry Azurmendi from Larrabetzu, near Bilbao, debuts at No.26 and also picks up the Sustainable Restaurant Award, sponsored by Zacapa.
Italy
Italy has three restaurants on the list with Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Francescana remaining at No.3 for the second year running.
UK
For the first time the UK has two restaurants within the top ten with Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at No.5 (climbing two places) and Brett Graham’s The Ledbury at No.10 (up three spots from last year).
Lifetime Achievement Award to Fergus Henderson
The Diners Club® Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Fergus Henderson from St. John in London, recognising the fundamental contribution he has made to the UK’s culinary identity.
France
France boasts five restaurants on the list with Mirazur moving up 17 places to No.11.
USA
With seven restaurants on the list overall and two restaurants in the top ten, the USA, another key international gastronomic leader, matches Spain and France with the highest number of restaurants featured. Eleven Madison Park in New York moves up one spot at No.4 to claim the Best Restaurant in North America, sponsored by Acqua Panna title. Another title scooped by the USA is the One To Watch, sponsored by Dekton® by Cosentino, won by Saison, in San Francisco. Last year’s One To Watch, South Africa’s The Test Kitchen, enters the top 50 at No.48.
South America
South America also has reason to celebrate with Helena Rizzo’s Mani rising 10 spots to No.36 and Helena herself taking home the Veuve Clicquot World’s Best Female Chef Award. Alex Atala’s D.O.M in São Paulo is placed at No.7 this year to once again pick up the accolade of being named Best Restaurant in South America, sponsored by Acqua Panna. Atala also receives the coveted Chefs’ Choice Award, sponsored by Gaggenau which is voted for by the chefs on the list. The Highest Climber Award, sponsored by Lavazza, goes to Central in Lima Peru, now at No.15, having climbed an impressive 35 places.
Asia
Asia now boasts seven restaurants in the world ranking including the Best Restaurant in Asia, sponsored by Acqua Panna; Nahm in Bangkok, Thailand, which comes in at No.13 (up 19 places). Gaggan, also in Bangkok, is ranked No.17, scooping the Highest New Entry Award, sponsored by LesConcierges.
The awards
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, are announced annually at London’s Guildhall, culminating in the coveted award for The S.Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurant. The World’s 50 Best Restaurants is organised by Restaurant magazine and presented in the company of the world’s most influential restaurateurs, finest chefs and assembled international media.
How the list is compiled
The list is created from the votes of The Diners Club® World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over 900 international leaders in the restaurant industry. The Academy comprises 26 separate regions around the world, each of which has 36 members, including a chairperson, and each member can cast seven votes. Of those seven, at least three votes must recognise restaurants outside of the academy member’s own region.
The panel in each region is made up of food writers and critics, chefs, restaurateurs and highly regarded ‘gastronomes’. Voters list their choices in order of preference, based on their best restaurant experiences of the previous 18 months. There is no pre-determined check-list of criteria.
Results
The results have now been published online at www.theworlds50best.com