CHICAGO, April 1 — Chicago chef Grant Achatz has claimed the title of world’s best restaurant for his eatery Alinea in yet another international ranking, this time as voted by affluent diners and travellers around the world.
For the third year in a row, the ranking compiled by Elite Traveller magazine bestowed the lofty title of world’s best restaurant to Achatz’s triple Michelin-starred Alinea.
The list is narrated by the publication’s restaurant critic Andy Hayler, an influential food journalist known for having eaten at every three-starred restaurant in the world.
“There is no menu choice, just a 25-course tasting menu offering an innovative and exceptionally precise balance of flavours,” he writes.
“Sudden bursts of theatricality include a dessert ‘painted’ onto the tablecloth by two chefs. Although molecular gastronomy is not my preferred style of food, it is impossible not to admire the sheer talent on display here. For me, Alinea compares favourably with elBulli or The Fat Duck.”
Rounding out the top five restaurants are Daniel in New York, The Fat Duck in Bray, England, Eleven Madison Park and Le Bernardin, both in New York.
France has also emerged as the world’s best dining destination, claiming the most addresses on the top 100 list, with 17 restaurants.
The highest ranked French restaurant is Pierre Gagnaire (17). Eight of the 17 restaurants are in Paris.
Meanwhile, the title of chef of the year for 2014 went to The Fat Duck’s Heston Blumenthal, who has remained in the media spotlight over the last few weeks for a string of developments out of his camp.
In addition to revealing more details on his new Heathrow Airport outpost, The Perfectionists’ Café, this week Blumenthal also announced plans to relocate his staff to the Crown hotel in Melbourne, Australia next year for six months.
Unlike other restaurant rankings — notably the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, organised by trade publication Restaurant magazine — the Elite 100 Restaurants 2014 are compiled using votes and feedback by diners.
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants are tallied by an international panel of experts including food critics, chefs, restaurateurs, journalists and lifestyle experts.
Topping their list last year was El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain. Elite Traveller ranks them sixth.
For the full results, click here. — AFP-Relaxnews
