S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2011

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Before the S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2011 list was released, you could probably still call in for a reservation in Noma, but this is definitely not the case right now especially after the restaurant and its head chef once again landed the top spot of the list.  You will likely be competing with thousands of individuals seeking a reservation in the world’s top restaurant.

After nine years, the S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants list has become the Oscars of the culinary world.  Aside from a Michelin star, this is one of the most sought after award of restaurateurs and chefs as well.  Even coming in the 50^th or even the 80^th has its benefits.  Business after the awards is crazy for restaurants that made it to the list.  Restaurateurs would find their restaurants packed with tourists from all over the country and often outside the country as well.

Of course, there are some people who believe that a spot in the list can be obtained by getting the right people to visit your restaurant.  Jonathan Gushue of Langdon Hall believes that he wasn’t able to do just this – and thus, his restaurant was bumped off the list.  He admits, however, that he his work cut out for him if he wants to get his restaurant back on the list.  Langdon Hall is located in Cambridge, Ontario.  It made the list last year, but it was bumped off the list this year.  Unfortunately, no Canadian restaurant made it to the list this year.

Of course, it is not just Canada that didn’t make the list.  There is a noticeable absence of Indian restaurants as well.  One can only conclude that it is Europe’s year.  It is the year for modernist cuisine.  Of course, Wasabi made it to the list.  It is located in India but it does not offer Indian cuisine.  Of course, Wasabi deserves its spot, but still why aren’t there any Indian restaurant that made it to the list?

Despite the seemingly huge importance of the list to restaurateurs, there are a lot of people who do not give much credit to the list.  A comment poster in Eater.com made a significant observation, “Let me get this straight — Momofuku Ssam Bar [No. 40] is better than all of the restaurants in Asia.”  If you think about it that poster definitely has a point.  Still, despite the many doubting Thomases in the culinary world, S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants list remains to be one of – if not – the biggest events in the culinary world.  This is probably the only event where the best chefs in the world eagerly gather.

Noma won the ultimate distinction of being the world’s best restaurant for the second time in a row.  This two Michelin starred restaurant in Copenhagen is known for the chef’s unique – and even exotic – interpretation of Nordic food and cooking.  This honor is another nod to the continued excitement Noma’s food has created.

Checking out the top 10, one can conclude that Modernist Cuisine has dominated the list.  Apparently, France has nothing on molecular gastronomy.  It is not surprising why Spain has three restaurants that made it to the list while France only has one.  El Bulli, the restaurant that won the 1^st spot three times in a row before Noma grabbed the spot last year, took itself out of the running.  Unfortunately, El Bulli is closing down its doors to the public later this year.  If Modernist Cuisine dominated on the top, it is refreshing that Etxebarri made it to the 50^th spot.  If Modernist Cuisine is all about molecular gastronomy through high-end technology, this restaurant is all about going down the basics – starting with choosing just the right wood for the grill.  Of course, it is doubtful if it would have made the top 50 list if El Bulli was still in the running for a spot in the higher end of the list.

The same names of restaurants made it to the top 15.  This year, however, three new restaurants made it to the top 15.  It is not only Canada that is probably dismayed with the result.  Only 6 U.S. restaurants made it to the top 50 list this year when it used to have 8 restaurants in the list last year; although there are actually 15 restaurants that made it to the top 100 list.  France has 13 and United Kingdom has 10.  Looking at the list, however, one can only conclude that Europe dominated the list.

The S. Pellegrino list is one of the most influential culinary ranking systems.  Once a restaurant makes it to the list, it can expect its customers to grow in unimaginable number.  It can draw customers from across the globe.  It doesn’t matter if you fall in the 2^nd spot or the 83^rd spot.  This year, Tokyo’s Nihonryori RyuGin made the biggest jump from the 48^th spot last year to the 20^th spot this year.  In truth, the movement was quite wild.  Restaurant de l’Hotel de Ville of Switzerland fell from the 14^th spot to the 47^th spot this year.  It is not surprising why many people believe that the ranking is highly subjective.  Some people would say that if the judges were not able to visit your restaurant, it is highly doubtful if you would make it to the list.  Is it right to say then that marketing and restaurant packaging may play a role on the ranking system?  Still, we’d like to believe that this system is honourable and honest.  After all, it’s the Oscars of the culinary world!

Here is the list of restaurants that made it to S. Pellegrino World’s 100 Best Restaurants:

Credit: theworlds50best.com

Image Credit: travelinggreener.com

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