LONDON, April 17 — Next Wednesday, champagne maker Veuve Clicquot will announce the latest recipient of its World’s Best Female Chef award, which is tied to S. Pellegrino’s The World’s 50 Best Restaurants initiative.
In an industry still largely dominated by men, the Veuve Clicquot World’s Best Female Chef award aims to celebrate feminine excellence, including culinary talent and innovation as well as business acumen.
Fittingly, the champagne maker behind the award was long led by a female visionary and pioneering businesswoman, Madame Clicquot.
A new recipient is determined each year by a jury of chefs, restaurateurs, food journalists and other culinary specialists. Last year, the honouree was Brazilian-born chef Helena Rizzo, who heads up the São Paulo restaurant Mani (46th in S.Pellegrino’s ranking), together with her spouse Daniel Redondo.
In 2013, 2012 and 2011, the award went to Italian chef Nadia Santini, Spanish chef Elena Arzak and French chef Anne-Sophie Pic, respectively, all three of whom bear the coveted distinction of three Michelin stars.
The French restaurant guide publisher remains the leading reference in gastronomy in its home country, where the methodology behind the S.Pellegrino awards is increasingly called into question. The sparkling water brand is due to reveal its latest World’s 50 Best Restaurants list on June 1 in London. — AFP-Relaxnews
