The World’s 50 Best Restaurants (sponsored by San Pellegrino & Acqua Panna) is the definitive foodie’s guide to the year’s best restaurants from around the world. It started in London and is currently on its 14th edition, with two expansions–Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants and Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards–both on their 3rd editions.
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards has been loudly criticized for being biased towards European restaurants, for being “opaque, sexist and priggishly self-pleasing” (according to Occupy50Best), and for featuring a static list with winners just changing positions.
I was able to witness the recent awards–long considered the Oscar’s of the culinary world–last night in Guildhall, London. I got a first-hand encounter with the people behind the awards, the academy chairs, the stakeholders, and most importantly, the biggest foodies in the world who patronize the list.
Despite all the criticism, here is why Asia should be excited about The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2015…
Related Blog Post: Asia’s Best Restaurants: What’s Awesome About @Asias50Best 2015? (A Filipino Perspective)
COURTYARD: Red Carpet Reception
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards night was held at the iconic Guildhall in London. People hang out at the courtyard to see and mingle with the best chefs in the culinary world.
The excited Asian media: Evelyn Chen of Bibik Gourmand (South East Asia South Academy Chair), Susan Jung (Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Academy Chair), Cheryl Tiu of Mega Publication in Manila, Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet, and Mijune Pak of Follow Me Foodie from Vancouver.
It was fun meeting the best chefs from all over the world, like Chef Andre of http://restaurantandre.com/–the Best Restaurant in Singapore!
It was also awesome to see Gaggan Anand of http://eatatgaggan.com/, Asia’s #1 Restaurant in 2015. Here he is with Mijune and Felice of Urbanswank.
Mijune couldn’t miss the chance for a photo op with her chef crush, Chef Eric Ripert of http://le-bernardin.com/.
OLD LIBRARY: Drinks and Canapé Reception
I was looking forward to tasting the food and drinks during the pre-award reception.
It’s always great to start with some Veuve Clicquot.
We kept coming back for this cheese mesh appetizer.
The Grana Padano was also really good. They served 18-month and 24-month aged versions.
Fresh Cod and King Crab from Norway, courtesy of Norge!
Couldn’t miss Gaggan’s creation of Falafel with Quail Egg.
Cacao Barry’s chocolates for dessert!
GREAT HALL: World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awarding
This is the last time the awards will be held at the beautiful Great Hall in Guildhall before it moves to New York next year.
French Laundry dropped from #44 last year to #50.
There were 10 restaurants that dropped out of the Top 50 list:
- #50 Waku Ghin, SINGAPORE
- #49 Coi, SAN FRANCISCO, USA
- #47 The Fat Duck, BRAY, UK
- #45 Hof Van Cleve, KRUISHOUTEM, BELGIUM
- #42 Geranium, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
- #40 Daniel, NEW YORK, USA
- #35 Martín Berasategui, SAN SEBASTIÁN, SPAIN
- #31 L’Atelier Saint-Germain de Joël Robuchon, PARIS, FRANCE
- #29 De Librije, ZWOLLE, NETHERLANDS
- #22 Vila Joya, ALBUFEIRA, PORTUGAL
#42 was a tie between Tickets of Barcelona, Spain (formerly #57) and Boragó of Santiago, Chile (#91 last year). Both are new additions to the Top 50 list.
Albert Adrià of Tickets, Barcelona, Spain won The World’s Best Pastry Chef Award for 2015!
Congratulations to Hélène Darroze of Hélène Darroze, Paris, and Hélène Darroze at the Connaught, London for winning the The Veuve Clicquot World’s Best Female Chef 2015!
White Rabbit of Moscow, Russia (previously #71) was the Highest New Entry Award at #23!
The Highest Climber Award went to Asador Etxebarri of Atxondo, Spain, who shot up from #34 to #13!
Daniel Boulud of Restaurant Daniel, New York, USA won the The Diners Club® Lifetime Achievement Award.
Gaggan–Asia’s 50 Best #1 resto–won the #10 spot in this year’s World’s 50 Best (up from #17)!
Narisawa of Tokyo, Japan was duly recognized as the Best Restaurant in Asia at #8 (previously #14).
Chef Andoni of Mugaritz took the #6 spot for the second straight year.
Eleven Madison Park, the Best Restaurant in North America, dropped to the #5 spot from #4.
Central of Lima Peru was The Best Restaurant in Latin America, up to the #4 spot from #15!
Chef Rene Redzepi of Noma dropped to #3 (last year’s #1) while Chef Massimo Bottura of Osteria Francescana climbed to the #2 spot (after finishing at #3 previously)!
Congratulations to El Celler de Can Roca of Girona, Spain for being crowned as the World’s #1 Best Restaurant in 2015!
PRINT ROOM: Press Conference for World No. 1
At the press conference for the World’s #1 Restaurant, the brothers shared that the secrets to El Celler de Can Roca is there are no secrets. Sharing of ideas and freedom of creativity is the key to culinary success.
They don’t intend to replicate the restaurant in another country but they plan to do an annual 5-week research/inspiration trip to different countries while introducing the restaurant to the international community.
CRYPT: World’s 50 Best After-Party
The Mexico Tourism Board sponsored the after-party at the Crypt.
I was disappointed with the Mexican food at the after-party.
On the bright side, we did get to take home drinks and goodies from Mexico!
Check out the complete list of winners of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2015!
Live an Awesome Life,
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Disclosure: Our London trip was courtesy of Foodie Hub. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights. Read Our Awesome Planet Complete Disclosure Policy here.
P.S. Here are the other notable winners from the World’s 50 Best!
Hope to see more asian restaurants next year!