Now that’s not a headline you would associate with Britain but yet another wide preconception has been challenged this week.
In a worldwide competititon, a small resturant in a town outside London has been named the best in the world. Four out of the top 10 and fourteen out of the top 50 are in Britain,
These are extracts from the Guardian article.
The Fat Duck, the pioneering British restaurant that introduced the world to delicacies such as sardine on toast sorbet and bacon and egg ice cream, has been declared the world’s best place to eat.
Chef Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant in the Berkshire village of Bray topped a list of the world’s 50 best restaurants which was unveiled in London last night.
Fourteen British restaurants were included on the list chosen by a panel of more than 600 chefs, food critics and restaurateurs, who considered culinary excellence, service and the overall dining experience.
The Fat Duck’s success pushed last year’s top restaurant, The French Laundry in California, into third position behind Spain’s legendary El Bulli. Only six New York restaurants made the Top 50 including Thomas Keller’s Per Se in seventh place and Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Jean Georges in ninth.
The strong showing by British restaurants was endorsed by John Willoughby, the executive editor of New York-based Gourmet magazine. “Our position is that London is the best city in the world to eat in right now,” he said. “Everyone here is amazed at the quality and the breadth of the restaurants.”
Top 50 places to eat
1 The Fat Duck Bray, Berkshire
2 El Bulli Montjoi, Spain
3 The French Laundry Yountville, California
4 Tetsuya’s Sydney
5 Gordon Ramsay London
6 Pierre Gagnaire Paris
7 Per Se New York
8 Tom Aikens London
9 Jean Georges New York
10 St John London
11 Michel Bras Laguiole, France
12 Le Louis XV Monte Carlo
13 Chez Panisse Berkeley, California
14 Charlie Trotter Chicago
15 Gramercy Tavern New York
16 Guy Savoy Paris
17 Restaurant Alain Ducasse Paris
18 The Gallery at Sketch London
19 The Waterside Inn Bray, Berkshire
20 Nobu London
21 Restaurante Arzak San Sebastián, Spain
22 El Raco de Can Fabes San Celoni, Spain
23 Checcino dal 1887 Rome
24 Le Meurice Paris
25 L’Hotel de Ville Crissier, Switzerland
26 L’Arpège Paris
27 Angela Hartnett at the Connaught London
28 Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons Oxford
29 Le Cinq Paris
30 Hakkasan London
31 Cal Pep Barcelona
32 Masa New York
33 Flower Drum Melbourne
34 WD50 New York
35 Le Quartier Francais Franschhoek, South Africa
36 Spice Market New York
37 Auberge de l’Ill Illhaeusern, Alsace
38 Manresa California
39 Restaurant Dieter Muller Begisch Gladbach, Germany
40 La Maison Troisgros Roanne, France
41 The Wolseley London
42 Rockpool Sydney
43 Yauatcha London
44 The Ivy London
45 Gambero Rosso San Vincenzo, Italy
46 The Cliff St James, Barbados
47 Le Gavroche London
48 Enoteca Pinchiorri Florence
49 Felix Hong Kong
50 La Tupina Bordeaux
