Roquebrune-Cap-Martin: Chef Mauro Colagreco will take the helm of two restaurants within The Maybourne Riviera. The soon-to-be-launched hotel joins London's iconic Claridge's, The Connaught and The Berkeley as part of the Maybourne Hotel Group. The restaurants will be housed in the strikingly modernist hotel, built on a rocky peninsula high above the town of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. His flagship will be Ceto, focusing on the sea and will open on Saturday 9th October. Located on the hotel’s top floor with dramatic panoramic views out over the Mediterranean, it is a true parallel between the sky and sea and will reflect Mauro’s ambition and passion. However, Ceto will be more than just a restaurant, but also a ‘marine culinary workshop’ to deepen knowledge of the region’s aquatic species and research sustainable ecological solutions. Dishes will play with texture, flavour and cooking processes, with the grill the centrepiece of the restaurant’s open kitchen. The menu will … [Read more...]
Archives for September 2021
Gucci Osteria Beverly Hills awarded with a Michelin star
Gucci Osteria Beverly Hills is the second Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura to clinch a Michelin star following the success of the first one that opened in Florence, Italy. Promoting modern Italian cuisine while embracing local Californian ingredients, Gucci Osteria is led by the young Italian chef Mattia Agazzi, under the guidance of chef Massimo Bottura of three-star Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy and Karime Lopez, chef of the first Gucci Osteria in Florence. Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura are a series of three contemporary restaurants that share the same values and principles under one Gucci Osteria umbrella. The restaurants are located in Florence, Tokyo and L.A. The Florence restaurant clinched a Michelin star earlier this year under the helm of chef Karime Lopez. Commenting on the award Mattia said, “This is a reward for the whole Gucci Osteria Beverly Hills team. It has been a very challenging time for the global hospitality industry, and we were forced to close … [Read more...]
Pop-up Kokotte: a culinary incubator in Brussels to test new restaurant concepts
BRUSSELS: Regine and Aline did not know what they would face when they opened a temporary pop-up restaurant at Pop-up Kokotte in central Brussels in March 2020. They still remember the day, a Tuesday. Little did they know that by Saturday, they would be shut for good in the first COVID-19 lockdown. Their concept was that of introducing African burgers to gastronomic burgers. The name of the concept, AfroBurgers. The two childhood friends had already tested their concept with a food-truck which worked well and their intention was to get a new experience which would help them open a permanent location. Despite their lack of fortune, they quickly pivoted to delivery and that turned out to be successful. "Even if we closed in September 2020 it was a huge learning experience for us," they said. In their journey, they have been guided by Pop-up Kokotte, an initiative in Brussels which allows young entrepreneurs to test their culinary concept without risk and at a lower-cost. It is … [Read more...]
12 new entries in 51-100 position of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list
There are twelve new restaurants in the 51-100 positions of the World's 50 Best Restaurants list which returns this year after the cancellation of last year's events. Ahead of the official announcement that will take place in Antwerp, Belgium on 5 October, the World's 50 Best Restaurants has already released the restaurants that have made it to the second half of the list. Among them are 12 new restaurants. The highest new entry is Alchemist, the Copenhagen restaurant the restaurant by Rasmus Monk. Other new entrants are Le Du in Thailand, Sazenka in Japan, Willem Hiele in Belgium, Brat in the UK, El Chato in Colombia, Le Clarence in France, Ikoyi in the UK, Mil in Peru, Fyn in South Africa, Kjolle in Peru and L'Effervesence in Japan. It is still early to draw conclusions on the full list given the top 50 still need to be known. However, there are three restaurants that have clearly fallen from the top 50. These are Schloss Shauenstein, De Librije and … [Read more...]
Franco Pepe gets the Best Chef Pizza award
Franco Pepe is to pizza what Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo are to football. His work at Pepe in Grani has now be recognised recognised by the Best Chef Awards who awarded him with the Best Chef Pizza price at the 2021 Best Chef Awards that took place in Amsterdam earlier this week. This award highlights the key role the Italian pizzaiolo has had on the international scene. Franco Pepe is one of the most well-known and highly regarded pizzaiolos in the world. For generations, his family has been linked to the gastronomic world and to the art of making bread. But Franco reinvented himself and created a whole new approach, one that is visionary and unique, focusing on one of Italy’s most famous and iconic dishes: pizza. For the first time ever, a Pizzaiolo is being recognized for his work in the context of fine dining and haute cuisine. “Receiving this award is extremely important to me. I’m so proud that my work is being recognized internationally alongside the world’s best … [Read more...]
Chefs United: A big event at Bon Bon in Brussels
Christophe Hardiquest and his Brussels restaurant Bon Bon is not new to big and ambitious events. A few years ago, he welcomed some of the World’s best chefs for a GELINAZ! Brussels Headquarters event that played over four shifts. Now, on the occasion of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards taking place in Antwerp in October, he has invited a number of chefs for a one night dinner called Chefs United. Together, the chefs will create a 10 course menu that is expected to create an electric atmosphere. The event takes place on Wednesday 6 October. On the evening Christophe will cook a 10 course dinner together with chefs Himanshu Saini, Maksut Askar, Manu Buffara, Norbert Niederkofler, Selassie Atadika, Riccardo Camanini, Brussels chocolatier Pierre Marcolini, Ana Ros and Paolo Griffa. Bookings will open tomorrow at 11am from the website. This is not the first time that Ana Ros cooks at Bon Bon. She had already been present for a series of events that Christophe Hardiquest … [Read more...]
Why everyone rooted for Noma and Redzepi
They say life is not about reaching the destination but rather about the journey. So it must have felt ironic for René Redzepi and his team to clinch a third Michelin star that has been eluding them for the past years in what was probably been the most difficult year for the restaurant. Social media was on fire as the food world applauded a decision that for many has come way too late. Noma’s photo of the three Michelin stars had over 100,000 likes and over 4,000 comments congratulating the restaurant. Instagram stories were on fire as was my Facebook feed. Rarely has there been such accolades and genuine celebration for a chef and restaurant. The last one that comes to mind was Mauro Colagreco of Restaurant Mirazur in France. Every year, pundits awaited the announcement thinking this would be Noma and Redzepi’s year only to be left wondering what the restaurant needed to change to finally clinch the most important accolade in the world of gastronomy. Not that Redzepi and … [Read more...]
Chef Dabiz Muñoz wins the Top100, followed by Björn Frantzen and Andoni Luis Aduriz
Chef Dabiz Muñoz of DiverXo in Madrid won The Best Chef Top100 Award during a live awards gala that took place in Amsterdam. Chef Björn Frantzén of Frantzén in Stockholm repeated his second place and also took the award for The Best Chef voted by Chefs. To round up the top three, Andoni Luis Aduriz of Mugaritz in San Sebastián made a huge jump from his previous 45th position on last year's list, to clinch the third spot. “Getting the number one in the Best Chef Awards is the biggest joy. An incredible pride and responsibility. For me, The Best Chef Award is one of the most prestigious publications in the world today, and an award like this is a dream come true. It recognizes many years of creativity, dedication, passion and hard work. The last years in the Xo world have been very intense and brutal, but my team and I are clear that this is only the beginning, and the best is yet to come. There are no limits in sight," said Dabiz Muñoz from restaurant DiverXo in Madrid, Spain, the … [Read more...]
Ikoyi is restaurant to watch 2021
The World's 50 Best Restaurants announced that the winner of the American Express One to Watch Award 2021 is London's Ikoyi, co-founded by childhood friends Jeremy Chan and Iré Hassan-Odukale. The award recognises a restaurant that is considered to be a rising star on the global dining scene and aims to recognise and celebrate gastronomic excellence and innovation. The restaurant was developed after an initial conversation Chan and Hassan-Odukale had that ignited a spark around the possibilities of African-inspired food. A period of intensive research ensued and what ultimately emerged was a series of dishes with unique international flavour profiles and a desire to forge a new culinary narrative. Chef Jeremy Chan says: “We are extremely humbled by the recognition on the global stage and proud of our small, hard-working team. We are also grateful to our producers, without whom this success would not be possible.” Since opening in 2017, Ikoyi has distinguished itself for its … [Read more...]
‘Belgium for Foodies’ gourmet guide launched by Luster
Next month, Belgium will be in the spotlight as it hosts The World 50 Best Restaurants awards in the city of Antwerp. There has never been a better time to launch a guide for foodies. In Belgium for Foodies, culinary journalist and food writer Femke Vandevelde has gathered some of the best places to eat and drink in Belgium. This guide is different from many others. It encourages you to discover places that you might even think about from fantastic food shops to top restaurants and cafes as well as extraordinary locations to dine in. It features not just fine dining restaurants but also where to eat local specialities. Tony De Luc accompanies the book with his photo for the original lists. The book will be available in bookshops as from 4 October. Belgium for Foodies invites the reader to discover Belgium's extraordinary culinary scene by taking you on a trip through the country from the North Sea to the countryside and vibrant cities with rich cultural and culinary … [Read more...]