Chef Luke Dale-Roberts’ The Test Kitchen was named the 28th best restaurant in the world and Best in Africa, at the 14th The World’s 50 Best Restaurants ceremony in London last night, a 20 place climb from his 48th position last year, and 61st position in 2013.  El Celler de Can Roca was ranked as the Best Restaurant in the World, the second time it has received this honour.  Regular winner Noma dropped to third place. Spain received the most 50 Best Restaurant Awards (7), followed by the USA (6), and France (5).  Both The Test Kitchen and World’s 50 Best Restaurants trended on Twitter last night.

El Celler de Can Roca is based in Giron in Spain, and is run by the three Roca brothers Josep, Joan,and Jordi, who opened their restaurant in 1986. They pioneered sous-vide cooking, and are described as creating ‘magic without undue theatrics’. Brother Joan is the head chef, Jordi is the Pastry Chef, and Josep is the Sommelier and Front of House.   In 2013 they were also named the best restaurant in the world.

Western Cape Minister of Tourism Alan Winde congratulated The Test Kitchen on its superb performance:  ‘I would like to commend the Test Kitchen for delivering an excellent offering all round. This award is a great boost for our tourism sector’.

This year the World’ 50 Best Restaurants award ceremony reflected a number of changes: it was held in the UK summer for the first time, having previously been held in April; the 51st to 100th restaurant rankings were announced a week ago already (in this ranking section The Tasting Room of Le Quartier Français came in at 88th position, probably its worst performance in the awards ever); the Lifetime Achievement Award was pre-announced as going to Daniel Boulud (he has restaurants and bars in New York, Boston, Washington DC, Miami, Palm Beach, Las Vegas, Montreal, Toronto, London, and Singapore); as was the Veuve Clicquot World’s Best Female Chef pre-announced as Hèléne Darroze (her restaurants are Hèléne Darroze at the Connaught in London, and Restaurant Hèléne Darroze in Paris. She started her cuisine career working with Chef Alain Ducasse at Le Louis XV Restaurant in Monaco, and then opened her restaurants, holding one Michelin star in Paris, and two stars in London). Another change was announced during the ceremony, the 2016 Awards are to be held in New York.

The One to Watch was announced as Sydney restaurant Sepia, a new award introduced in 2013 and won by Chef Luke Dale-Roberts in that year.  The World’s Best Pastry Award went to Albert Adrià at Tickets.  Chefs’ Choice went to Chef Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park.  The Highest New Entry Award went to the Russian White Rabbit. Highest Climber Award went to Asador Etxebarri at Atxondo in Spain.  Relae won the Sustainable Restaurant Award.

The 2015 World’s 50 Best Restaurants are:

1. El Celler de Can Roca, Girona (Spain) – World’s Best Restaurant and Best Restaurant in Europe

2. Osteria Francescana, Modena (Italy)

3. Noma, Copenhagen (Denmark)

4. Central, Lima (Peru) – Best Restaurant in South America

5. Eleven Madison Park, New York (USA) – Best Restaurant in North America

6. Mugaritz, San Sebastian (Spain)

7. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London (UK)

8. Narisawa, Tokyo (Japan) – Best Restaurant in Asia

9. D.O.M. , Sao Paulo (Brazil)

10. Gaggan, Bangkok (Thailand)

11. Mirazur, Menton (France)

12. Arpège, Paris (France)

13. Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo (Spain)

14. Astrid Y Gastón, Lima (Peru)

15. Steirereck, Vienna (Austria)

16. Pujol, Mexico City (Mexico)

17. Arzak, San Sebastian (Spain)

18. Le Bernardin, New York (USA)

19. Azurmendi, Larrabetzu (Spain)

20. The Ledbury, London (UK)

21. Le Chateaubriand, Paris (France)

22. Nahm, Bangkok (Thailand)

23. White Rabbit, Moscow (Russia)

24. Ultraviolet, Shanghai (China)

25. Fäviken, Järpen (Sweden)

26. Alinea, Chicago (USA)

27. Piazza Duomo, Alba (Italy)

28. The Test Kitchen, Cape Town (South Africa) – Best Restaurant in Africa

29. Nihonryori RyuGin, Tokyo (Japan)

30. Vendôme, Bergisch Gladbach (Germany)

31. Restaurant Frantzén, Stockholm (Sweden)

32. Attica, Melbourne (Australia) – Best Restaurant in Australasia

33. Aqua, Wolfsburg (Germany)

34. Le Calandre, Rubano (Italy)

35. Quintonil, Mexico City (Mexico)

36. L’Astrance, Paris (France)

37. Biko, Mexico City (Mexico)

38. Amber, Hong Kong (Hong Kong)

39. Quique Dacosta, Denia (Spain)

40. Per Se, New York (USA)

41. Mani, Sao Paulo (Brazil)

42. Tickets, Barcelona (Spain) and Boragò, Santiago (Chile)

44. Maido, Lima (Peru)

45. Relae, Copenhagen (Denmark)

46. Restaurant André, Singapore (Singapore)

47. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Aathénée, Paris (France)

48. Schloss Schauenstein, Fürstenau (Switzerland)

49. Blue Hill at Stone Barms, Tarrytown (USA)

50. The French Laundry, Yountville (USA)

The livestreaming was of a very poor quality, and ran about 15 – 30 minutes behind the live transmission, being evident by the Tweets, which were announcing results long before they were announced via livestreaming.  The names of the restaurants were not visible in most instances, and the sound came and went!  Criticism of the voting methodology of the powerful Awards has led to the results being audited for the first time.

Given Chef Luke’s astronomical climb up the World’s 50 Best Restaurant list in just three years, he may well make the world’s top 10 list next year!

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, www.theworlds50best.com  Twitter: @TheWorlds50Best

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com  Tel (021) 433-2100, Twitter:@WhaleCottage  Facebook:  click here