Massimo Bottura - still the best chef in the world!
The Skinny Italian chef retained his 50 Best #1 slot in Melbourne today!
Massimo Bottura retained his #1 spot at the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards in Melbourne today. Massimo beat off competition from a number of chefs including fellow Phaidon author Virgilio Martinez, of Lima, Peru restaurant Central, who came in at number 5 on this year's list, Daniel Hum from Eleven Madison Park in New York and the Roca brothers from El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Catalunya.
Other Phaidon chefs in the top ten included: Andoni Luis Aduriz at number 9. Fastest riser was André Chiang Virgilio Martinez, who retained his top spot for the third time at last year Latin America 50 Best awards in Mexico was at Number 5. Virgilio was praised for the way he "condensed Peru’s hugely varied climate onto Central’s plates, dreaming up and serving a tasting menu that travels from 25 metres below to 4,200 metres above sea level.”
Many in the audience at the historic Royal Exhibition Hall had wondered before the event whether Martinez might travel up to the top spot at this year’s international awards – but Virgilio will have to wait another year for another crack at the summit.
Meanwhile, Rodolfo Guzmán, a new Chilean signing to Phaidon, rose from number 36 on last year's list to number 42, with his Santiago restaurant, Boragó. Opened a decade ago by Guzmán, who was an engineering student and a pro water-skier, before turning to cookery, Boragó is known for innovative dishes such as venison tartare with maqui berries; Chilean rhubarb with fruits of the beach and conger eel fried with squid ink batter.
Dan Hunter of Brae, whose book we’re about to publish entered the top 50 for the first time ever at number 44 When Dan opened his regional Victorian restaurant Brae in 2013, he wanted to create an "immersive" experience, and a setting and menu with a real sense of "identity".
That "immersion" begins at the farm gate as you pass through a beautiful orchard and vegetable garden along a gravel drive up to the old white weatherboard farmhouse, Brae.
Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Francescana is at **; Dan Hunter’s Brae is at 44; Enrique Olvera’s Cosme was at 40; and Pujol at 20 Gastón Acurio’s Astrid Y Gastón, is at 33 , Rudolfo Guzmàn‘s Boragò is at 42; André Chiang’s Restaurant André is at 14; Magnus Nilsson’s Faviken is at 57; Alex Atala’s DOM is at 16; Andoni Luis Aduriz’s Mugaritz is at 9; Albert Adria’s Tickets was up four places at 25; and Corey Lee’s Benu is at 67.
Congratulations to all our chefs - Enrique Olvera, Gastón Acurio, Rudolfo, André Chiang, Magnus Nilsson, Corey Lee, Alex Atala, Andoni Luis Aduriz, Albert Adria and a big 50 Best Phaidon welcome to our newcomers Dan Hunter and Rodolfo Guzman.
Buy all their books from the people who made them in the food section of our store.