Chefs, academy members and sponsors gathered at The Guildhall in London earlier tonight to hear the unveiling of the eleventh list from the World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards, organised by BigHospitality's sister publication Restaurant magazine.
The team from Noma, led by René Redzepi, took to the stage to accept their award. The restaurant's kitchen porter Ali Sonko, who was unable to make it in 2010 when Noma first topped the list due to visa issues, was tasked with giving the acceptance speech.
He said: "Thank you so much, I'm so happy about it. I would have liked to come here three years ago but I couldn't get here. I'm so happy for all of us and I say thank you for René and all the team."
Special awards
Along with the unveiling of the list, there were 12 special awards given out to restaurants and individuals, including Thomas Keller, winner of the S.Pellegrino Lifetime Achievement Award and Elena Arzak, winner of The Veuve Clicquot World's Best Female Chef Award.
Keller made a speech thanking four special people who had had a major impact on his career including his brother Joseph and Bill Cunningham who had been 'the biggest part of the most important restaurant' in his life - The French Laundry. He also underlined the importance of nuturing and mentoring talent within the industry.
Steirereck in Austria was winner of the Slow Food Award, a new award for this year, while La Grenouillere in France, although not on the list was dubbed The One to Watch.
Heston Blumenthal's London restaurant, Dinner was winner of the Highest New Entry Award after entering the list for the first time at number nine. The restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental hotel came in four places higher than Blumenthal's original restaurant The Fat Duck, which itself was number one in 2005.
The number of restaurants in the UK appearing in the top 50 dropped from four in 2011 to three this year with St John, a stalwart for several years, and Hisbiscus both disappearing from the list. However, it was good news for Brett Graham whose London restaurant The Ledbury was the Highest Climber at 14.
The top restaurants in each region were also honoured at the awards with Quay picking up Best Restaurant in Australasia, Iggy's in Singapore winning Best Restaurant in Asia, Thomas Keller's Per Se winning Best Restaurant in North America, DOM winning Best Restaurant in South America, and Noma Best Restaurant in Europe. Andoni Luis Aduriz of Mugaritz was also picked for the Chef's Choice award.
The 2012 World's 50 Best Restaurants:
- Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark
- El Cellar de Can Roca, Girona, Spain
- Mugaritz, San Sebastián, Spain
- D.O.M. São Paolo, Brazil
- Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy
- Per Se, New York, USA
- Alinea Chicago, USA
- Arzak San Sebastián, Spain
- Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London, UK
- Eleven Madison Park, New York, USA
- Steirereck, Vienna, Austria
- L’Atelier Saint-Germain de Joël Robuchon, Paris, France
- The Fat Duck, Bray, UK
- The Ledbury, London, UK
- Le Chateaubriand, Paris, France
- L’Arpège, Paris, France
- Pierre Gagnaire, Paris, France
- L’Astrance, Paris, France
- Le Bernardin, New York, USA
- Frantzén/Lindeberg, Stockholm, Sweden
- Oud Sluis, Sluis, Netherlands
- Aqua, Wolfsburg, Germany
- Vendôme, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
- Mirazur, Menton, France
- Daniel New York, USA
- Iggy’s, Singapore
- Narisawa, Tokyo, Japan
- Nihonryori RyuGin, Tokyo, Japan
- Quay, Sydney, Australia
- Schloss Schauenstein, Fürstenau, Switzerland
- Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo, Spain
- Le Calandre, Padua, Italy
- De Librije, Zwolle, Netherlands
- Fäviken, Järpen, Sweden
- Astrid y Gastón, Lima, Peru
- Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico
- Momofuku Ssäm Bar, New York, USA
- Biko, Mexico City, Mexico
- Waku Ghin, Singapore
- Quique Dacosta, Denia, Spain
- Mathias Dahlgren, Stockholm, Sweden
- Hof Van Cleve, Kruishoutem, Belgium
- The French Laundry, Yountville, USA
- Amber, Hong Kong, China
- Vila Joya, Albufeira, Portugal
- Il Canto, Siena, Italy
- Bras, Laguiole, France
- Manresa Los Gatos, USA
- Geranium, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Nahm, Bangkok, Thailand
Watch Restaurant editor William Drew interview René Redzepi in this video: