The 2012 World’s 50 Best Restaurants revealed next week at the awards’ 10 year anniversary
London’s Guildhall will play host to the glitterati of the gastronomic world on Monday 30 April at the 2012 World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna.
The industry is holding its breath to see whether René Redzepi and his team from Noma in Denmark can make it 3 years in a row at the coveted top spot.
The Brits also wait in anticipation to see whether Blumenthal’s new offering, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, as well as The Fat Duck, will feature on the list, and where last year’s Highest New Entry, The Ledbury, will appear.
Europe, which always puts in a strong performance at the awards, already has plenty to celebrate after Elena Arzak Espina, Joint Head Chef from Spanish establishment Arzak, was named the Veuve Clicquot World’s Best Female Chef award earlier this month.
The USA is also already in high spirits after the legendary Thomas Keller of The French Laundry (no.1 2003-04), and more recently Per Se, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement accolade after spending each of the past 10 years of the awards with at least one restaurant on the list.
Emerging foodie nations and regions within Asia and South America will also be looking to increase their standing on the list this year with strong candidates from the likes of Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, as well as Mexico, Peru and Brazil.
Guests on the night will be treated to a plethora of gastronomic treats for the taste buds including a Lavazza espresso canapé like no other, created by last year’s winner of the Chefs’ Choice award, Massimo Bottura of Osteria Francescana in Italy.
Gathering at the Guildhall on Monday will be the ‘A list’ of the restaurant world including legends such as Spain’s Ferran Adria and Juan Mari Arzak. Flying in from the four corners of the earth to be there, the chefs will receive an unprecedented welcome courtesy of global concierge service Les Concierges, who are working with organiser Restaurant magazine for the first time this year to make this a true red-carpet event.
Millions of people across the world will also be able to tune in to watch the awards as they are being live streamed on www.finedininglovers.com