Two Aussie restaurants in world’s top 50 list
Sydney restaurant Tetsuya’s has again been named best restaurant in Australia at an awards ceremony in London overnight, where a list of the World’s Best 50 restaurants was announced.
The renowned S.Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants list celebrated its eighth year, with Spanish restaurant El Bulli* coming out on top for the fourth straight year. Once again London’s The Fat Duck came second, while Joel Robuchon won the Lifetime Achievement Award. A total of 4,185 votes were tallied from 837 restaurant experts from around the world as the list continued to receive greater recognition around the world.
On the world list, Tetsuya’s fell to 17 after placing fifth in 2007 and ninth last year, while Neil Perry’s Rockpool dropped off the list altogether for the first time. Rockpool reached as high as 4th in 2002 but has since steadily lost favour amongst the selection panel. However, fellow Sydney restaurant Quay capped off a stunning twelve months when they were named on the list for the first time, coming in at 46. The harbourside restaurant, led by Executive Chef Peter Gilmore, last year won Restaurant of the Year from the Gourmet Traveller Magazine, captured the Australian Restaurant of the Year title at the Savour Australia National Awards and was adjudged Best Sydney Restaurant by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Aside from Rockpool, another familiar name to Australians was missing from the list this year, that of Gordon Ramsay. His flagship London restaurant was a notable omission, having placed 13th last year. Both Rockpool and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay failed to make it onto the extended list of the Top 100, while Sydney’s Pier Restaurant managed to edge into the Top 100 for the first time – coming in at at 94.
* For those unfamiliar with the work of Ferran Adria at the famed El Bulli restaurant in Spain there is a video on our front page that offers an insight into his amazing food creations.
Action Against Hunger, the official charity partner of the S.Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2009, is proud to announce the launch of its eBay charity auction, giving food lovers from around the world the opportunity to bid for meals and experiences donated by many of the internationally renowned restaurants featured in this year’s list.
Donations include ‘once in a lifetime’ auction prizes from the likes of London restaurants Hakkasan, Nobu & St John and Rene Redzepi’s Noma in Copenhagen. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the vital lifesaving work of international humanitarian organisation, Action Against Hunger.Visit myworld.ebay.co.uk/actionagainsthungeruk to view the full list of participating restaurants. Bidding opens today, 21st April.
The charity meal auction was announced by Raymond Blanc, OBE and Ambassador for the charity at this evening’s prestigious S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony in London. Each of the participating restaurants has generously donated a meal for two or more people.
Unique experiences up for grabs include a 12-course tasting menu with matching wines presented by Rene Redzepi, the head chef at Noma in Copenhagen, one of the top three restaurants in the world.
Other scrumptious delights include a specially designed 18-course menu with wines and other special surprises for the lucky bidder of renowned Arzak in Spain, one of the nominated top 10 restaurants.
There is also a chance to tour the famous kitchens at Mugaritz in San Sebastian with head chef, Andoni Aduriz, a top five restaurant, or the opportunity to dine in the exclusive Daniel ‘Skybox’ in New York, an intimate glass dining room suspended above the infamous kitchen.
The auction is split over two allotments. The first features restaurants from the UK, France and Italy amongst other countries and will begin on 21st April at staggered times, lasting 10 days and concluding on 1st May. The second allotment features restaurants from the USA and Spain, amongst others, beginning on 4th May to coincide with The S.Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ celebratory event being held in New York, ending 14th May. Visit myworld.ebay.co.uk/actionagainsthungeruk to view the full list of participating restaurants and place your bid.
Jean-Michel Grand, Action Against Hunger’s Executive Director, comments: “We are absolutely delighted, and immensely grateful, that so many of The S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2009 winners have pledged their support by donating such wonderful ‘once in a lifetime’ meals and experiences, that will undoubtedly make for an exciting auction to help raise much needed funds for Action Against Hunger.”
Action Against Hunger (ACF) is an international humanitarian organisation committed to saving the lives of malnourished children and working with vulnerable populations in over 40 countries worldwide to preserve and restore their livelihoods with dignity.
To find out more about the charity Action Against Hunger, go to http://www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk