Osteria Francescana Wins The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2018

Osteria Francescana restaurant in Modena, Italy, of chef Massimo Bottura took for the second time the winning spot at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna.

The announcements of the winners of the prestigious celebration of the very best in global gastronomy took place on 19 June, in Bilbao, Spain.

This year’s Awards saw the largest gathering of the global community ever in the 16 years of The World’s 50 Best, with 49 of the restaurants in the top 50 represented at the Awards Ceremony, at the Euskalduna Palace of the Basque country.

Winning the honour of first place at this prestigious annual celebration of the very best in gastronomy, an elated chef Bottura appeared on stage with his wife Lara, who also shared a few words with the audience. “We [of the restaurant industry] have the possibility to change the future”. Bottura continued, “chefs in 2018 are much more than the sum of their recipes… together we can be the big change in the world.” Referring to "the Refettorio project" Bottura continued, “chefs in 2018 are much more than the sum of their recipes… together we can be the big change in the world.” 

On 18th of June Bottura was also guest at the event "Food meets Art" hosted by S.Pellegrino dedicated to the inspiring crossover between different creative disciplines, namely food and art.

This is the second time Osteria Francescana tops The World’s 50 Best list, after 2016: closely following behind was El Celler de Can Roca of Girona, Spain, taking second place (ranked first place in 2013 and 2015). Third place was given to Mirazur of Menton, France.

OTHER AWARDS 

During the highly-anticipated night, a number of restaurants and chefs were announced for the yearly awards, recognizing a variety of rising stars. These awards ranged from the restaurant that ranked the highest first entry into the list, to the venue recognized for the owners and chef’s strong environmental and social responsibility practices. 

The World’s Best Pastry Chef Award:

Cédric Grolet, head pastry chef of Le Meurice hotel in Paris.

Highest Climber Award:

Den, Tokyo, Japan, that rose 28 places in the 2018 list, arriving at No.17.

Highest New Entry Award:

Disfrutar, Barcelona, Spain (No.18), which was also last year’s One to Watch winner.

Art of Hospitality Award:

Geranium, Copenhagen, Denmark (No. 19) was recognized for its award-winning hospitality experience.

Chef’s Choice Award:

Dan Barber, of Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, USA. A reflection of the high regard of his peers, Chef Barber was voted by his fellow chefs who refer to him as a philosopher, scientist, teacher, author, mentor, and a preacher of the principles of good farming.

Sustainable Restaurant Award:

Azurmendi, Larrabetzu, Spain (No.43)

 

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED AWARDS 

A number of awards that form part of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants had been announced ahead of the ceremony and were presented during the night.

These included the very first 50 Best BBVA Scholarship that went to Jessie Liu, a 24-year-old self taught chef from Taiwan currently based in Melbourne, Australia, and the Diners Club® Lifetime Achievement Award which went to Gastón Acurio of Astrid y Gastón in Lima, Peru, regarded as the global ambassador of Peruvian cuisine. Chef Acurio appeared on stage with his message on diversity, “good things happen when we celebrate our differences. Cooking unites humankind.”  Miele One To Watch was presented to the restaurant Singlethread in California, run by chef Kyle Connaughton and farmer Katina Connaughton. The elit® Vodka Best Female Chef was presented to Clare Smyth, of Core by Clare Smyth in London. A mentor also for S.Pellegrino Young Chef in 2015, she stressed the importance of chefs supporting each other, regardless of whether they are men or women, “we must clear the path for the next generation.”

THE FULL LIST: THE WORLD’S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS 2018

1. Osteria Francescana, Modena (Italy) | BEST RESTAURANT IN EUROPE and BEST RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD

2. El Celler de Can Roca, Girona (Spain)

3. Mirazur, Menton (France)

4. Eleven Madison Park, New York (USA) | BEST RESTAURANT IN NORTH AMERICA

5. Gaggan, Bangkok (Thailand) | BEST RESTAURANT IN ASIA

6. Central, Lima (Peru) | BEST RESTAURANT IN SOUTH AMERICA

7. Maido, Lima (Peru)

8. Arpège, Paris (France)

9. Mugaritz, San Sebastian (Spain)

10. Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo (Spain)

11. Quintonil, Mexico City (Mexico)

12. Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Tarrytown (USA)

13. Pujol, Mexico City (Mexico)

14. Steirereck, Vienna (Austria)

15. White Rabbit, Moscow (Russia)

16. Piazza Duomo, Alba (Italy)

17. Den, Tokyo (Japan) | Highest Climber

18. Disfrutar, Barcelona (Spain) | Highest New Entry

19. Geranium, Copenhagen (Denmark) | Art of Hospitality Award

20. Attica, Melbourne (Australia) | BEST RESTAURANT IN AUSTRALASIA

21. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée, Paris (France)

22. Narisawa, Tokyo (Japan)

23. Le Calandre, Rubano (Italy)

24. Ultraviolet, Shanghai (China)

25. Cosme, New York (USA)

26. Le Bernardin, New York (USA)

27. Boragò, Santiago (Chile)

28. Odette, Singapore

29. Alléno Paris at Pavillon Ledoyen, Paris (France)

30. D.O.M. , Sao Paulo (Brazil)

31. Arzak, San Sebastian (Spain)

32. Tickets, Barcelona (Spain)

33. The Clove Club, London (UK)

34. Alinea, Chicago (USA)

35. Maaemo, Oslo (Norway)

36. Reale, Castel di Sangro (Italy)

37. Restaurant Tim Raue, Berlin (Germany)

38. Lyle’s, London (UK)

39. Astrid Y Gastón, Lima (Peru)

40. Septime, Paris (France)

41. Nihonryori Ryugin, Tokyo (Japan)

42. The Ledbury, London (UK)

43. Azurmendi, Larrabetzu (Spain)

44. Mikla, Instanbul (Turkey)

45. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London (UK)

46. Saison, San Francisco (USA)

47. Schloss Schauenstein, Fürstenau (Switzerland)

48. Hiša Franko, Kobarid (Slovenia)

49. Nahm, Bangkok (Thailand)

50. The Test Kitchen, Cape Town (South Africa) | BEST RESTAURANT IN AFRICA