LONDON: Restaurant Geranium in Copenhagen was crowned the World’s 50 Best Restaurant no 1 for 2022. at the award ceremony in London on July 18. Led by chef Rasmus Kofoed, the top award was somewhat expected after the restaurant placed second to Noma in the list in October of last year.
Speaking on the award, Rasmus said he had prepared a few words in case magic happened and said that magic had indeed happened.
The Danish chef of restaurant Geranium thanked his team and his wife for their constant support saying that when the restaurant changed location in the middle of the financial crisis in 2010 it was a restaurant in a dark and soulless room in a stadium. “We survived against all odds thanks to big dreams, strong friendships, burning passion and dedicated team members. Geranium became our vision of embracing the circle of life,”
Rasmus said food was a connected that enabled people to share tradition culture and creativity and he felt grateful to be part of this.
Just nine months after the 2021 awards were announced in Antwerp, it was the time for the 2022 awards. Originally planned for Moscow, the awards were moved to London where they had started. There was no reference to Moscow with William Drew saying the awards were returning to London where they had started 20 years ago.
Second on the list was Virgilio Martinez’s Central in Peru which now becomes firm favourite to top the list next year having been consistently in the top positions over the past few years.
Spanish Disfrutar from Barcelona placed third with Diverxo from Madrid in fourth place. Pujol from Mexico was in fifth place.
In sixth place was Extebarri also from Spain as if confirming the spectacular performance of the Spanish in this year’s edition of the awards.
Italy also fared very well. Lido 84 continued to rise in the list finishing in 8th place. Le Calandre in 10th place and the highest climber award went to Uliassi which finished in 12th place. The 64 year old chef has been incredibly successful in the past few years rising not only in this list but also clinching three Michelin stars only a few years ago.
The sustainable restaurant award went to Aponiente in Spain. Angel Leon’s commitment to conservation and preservation of the sea, the use of historically discarded marine species and research of new unknown ingredients and the pursuit of sustainable fishing was rewarded for his work. The chef’s choice award went to Jorge Vallejo of Quintonil in Mexico. This is an award that is voted by chefs in the list.
Critics of the list will notice the lack of female chefs in the top 50. Despite efforts to introduce more diversity into the list, these efforts seem to have failed with only two restaurants led by women featuring in the top 50 positions. These were Hisa Franko in 34th place and Leo in 48th place.
A number of results are well worth pointing out. Berlin restaurant Nobelhart & Schmutzig is the highest climber in the list in the 17th spot while Nick Bril’s The Jane in Antwerp has also advanced considerable positions to reach the 23rd position. And the fairy tale story of Jordnaer continued. First time on the list, they surpassed the 51-100 list and placed directly in 38th position.
Earlier this month, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants released the restaurants in the 51-100 list and the first observation was how the list was compiled given some of the countries were still closed for tourism because of the COVID-19 pandemic meaning voters were most certainly not able to visit restaurants in certain countries particularly in Asia. In fact, the top Asian restaurant was Tokyo restaurant Den which placed 20th in the list.
The top 50 list
1. Geranium, Copenhagen, Denmark
2. Central, Lima, Peru
3. Disfrutar, Barcelona, Spain
4. Diverxo, Madrid, Spain
5. Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico
6. Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo, Spain
7. A Casa do Porco, Sao Paulo, Brazil
8. Lido 84, Gardone Riviera, Italy
9. Quintonil, Mexico City, Mexico
10. Le Calandre, Rubano, Italy
11. Maido, Lima, Peru
12. Uliassi, Senigallia, Italy
13. Steirereck, Vienna, Austria
14. Don Julio, Buenos Aires, Argentina
15. Reale, Castel di Sangro, Italy
16. Elkano, Getaria, Spain
17. Nobelhart & Schmutzig, Berlin, Germany
18. Alchemist, Copenhagen, Denmark (new entry)
19. Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy
20. Den, Tokyo, Japan
21. Mugaritz, San Sebastian, Spain
22. Septime, Paris, France
23. The Jane, Antwerp, Belgium
24. The Chairman, Hong Kong
25. Frantzen, Stockholm, Sweden
26. Tim Raue, Berlin, Germany
27. Hof van Cleve, Kruishoutem, Belgium
28. Le Clarence, Paris, France (new entry)
29. St Hubertus, San Cassiano, Italy (New entry)
30. Florilege, Tokyo, Japan
31. Arpege, Paris, France
32. Mayta, Lima, Peru, (New entry)
33. Atomix, New York, United States
34. Hisa Franko, Kobarid, Slovenia
35. The Clove Club, London, UK
36. Odette, Singapore
37. Fyn, Cape Town, South Africa
38. Jordnaer, Copenhagen, Denmark
39. Sorn, Bangkok, Thailand (New entry)
40. Schloss Schauenstein, Furstenau, Switzerland (re entry)
41. La Cime, Osaka, Japan
42. Quique Dacosta, Denia, Spain (re entry)
43. Borago, Santiago, Chile,
44. Le Bernardin, New York, United States
45. Narisawa, Tokyo, Japan
46. Belcanto, Lisbon, Portugal
47. Oteque, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (new entry)
48. Leo, Bogota, Colombia
49. Ikoyi, London, UK (New entry)
50. Singlethread, California, United States
Special awards
Sustainable Restaurant award: Aponiente, Spain
One to watch: Restaurant AM par Alexandre Mazzia, France
World’s Best Pastry Chefs awards: Rene Frank
Best restaurant in Africa: Fyn, South Africa
Art of Hospitality award: Atomix
Best female chef award: Leonor Espinosa
World’s best sommelier award: Josep Roca
Best restaurant in Asia: Den
Highest climber award: Nobelhart & Schmutzig
Highest new entry: Uliassi
Icon award: Wawira Nijiru
Chef’s Choice Award: Jorge Vallejo
Best restaurant in North America: Pujol
Best restaurant in South America: Central
Best restaurant in Europe: Geranium
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