Mirazur By Chef Mauro Colagreco Is The First French Restaurant To Top The World’s 50 Best Restaurants List

Highlights include Noma's record-breaking debut and Singapore's Odette climbing up ten places

If there’s one thing we expected from this year’s The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, which took place this evening at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre, it would be that we would have a new number one following the awarding body’s new ranking system that precludes previous list-toppers like Osteria Francescana (Modena, Italy), El Celler de Can Roca (Girona, Spain) and Eleven Madison Park (New York, USA) from taking the top spot again.

This time around, Mirazur on the Cote D'Azur in Menton, France made history when it earned the top spot with its distinct, season-focused menu, becoming the first French restaurant to take the No.1 spot on the list. Argentinean-born chef Mauro Colagreco, who moved to France in his 20s and trained under culinary superstars like Alain Passard and Alain Ducasse, said in his thank you speech that this win celebrates "France and its values we all share: liberté, egalité and fraternité".

He also paid tribute to Argentina, Brazil and Italy, saying: "Argentina is where I had memories of my childhood, Brazil gave me the love of my life, and Italy is where half of my team comes from ... cooking made me understand that cuisine crosses all borders."

His win, though, was no surprise to many pundits and fellow chefs, given the restaurant's steady climb to the top since it debuted on the list at No.35 in 2009. This year, it also earned the coveted three Michelin stars, and is the first French restaurant by a non-French chef in France to earn three stars.

Above The winner of the Highest New Entry Award is Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark, the award is presented by Annabel Crabb.

Landing on second place, and also this year's Highest New Entry, is the new Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark) by acclaimed Danish chef René Redzepi, while "highest climber" Asador Etxebarri (Atxondo, Spain) and Gaggan (Bangkok, Thailand) were No.3 and No.4, respectively. The top five was completed by another restaurant from Copenhagen, Geranium by chef Rasmus Kofoed.

Above Julien Royer's Odette in Singapore climbs 10 places to take the No.18 spot

Odette

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1 St Andrew’s Road, #01-04 National Gallery Singapore, S(178957)

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Singapore's Odette by Julien Royer also made an impressive leap up the list, 10 spots from last year to land at No.18. "Of course, we're very, very happy, and at the same time, we have room for improvement... so, it's amazing," he shares.

"Last year we were No.28 and this year we're No.18, so let's keep pushing and working hard, and keep climbing; I've a feeling eight is my lucky number."

He went on to describe Colagreco as a great chef and a great human being. "He's someone who has a very deep appreciation for food and people; I can't be more happy for them tonight."

As one might also have expected, there were a few interesting outcomes. Noma's phenomenal debut at No.2 aside, some wondered what it would take for Mugaritz in San Sebastian, Spain (No. 7) to make it to the top the list after keeping its place in the top 10 for a record 14 years (since 2006). Spain does, however, have the most number of restaurants in the top 10—Disfrutar in Barcelona, by chefs Oriol Castro, Mateu Casañas and Eduard Xatruch, came in at No.9

Friends and fans were also thrilled to learn that Atelier Crenn had broken into the top 50 with a place at No.35. Chef-owner Dominique Crenn made the news in 2016 when she was crowned Best Female Chef, but last year, her restaurant fell completely off the list.

Still, it is worth noting that more restaurants led by female chefs are making their mark on the coveted list, and tonight it was a double win for this year's Best Female Chef honouree Daniela Soto-Innes whose restaurant, Cosme, climbed two spots to sit at No.23. "As a Mexican women leading a diverse team, I believe with every day and with every meal, and every guest, we can fight against ignorance and prejudice, which tells us that our voices shouldn't be heard, that our happiness and dreams do not matter.

"Because, not only does happiness matter, but we can spread it; not only do dreams matter but we can make them come true."

Indeed, more than a few dreams came true tonight.

Above The World's Best Restaurants 2019

Here is the full list of winners:

1. Mirazur (Menton, France)

2. Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark)

3. Asador Etxebarri (Atxondo, Spain)

4. Gaggan (Bangkok, Thailand)

5. Geranium (Copenhagen, Denmark)

6. Central (Lima, Peru)

7. Mugaritz (San Sebastian, Spain)

8. Arpège (Paris, France)

9. Disfrutar (Barcelona, Spain)

10. Maido (Lima, Peru)

11. Den (Tokyo, Japan)

12. Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico)

13. White Rabbit (Moscow, Russia)

14. Azurmendi (Larrabetzu, Spain)

15. Septime (Paris, France)

16. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée (Paris, France)

17. Steirereck (Vienna, Austria)

18. Odette (Singapore)

19. Twins Garden (Moscow, Russia)

20. Tickets (Barcelona, Spain)

21. Frantzén (Stockholm, Sweden)

22. Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan)

23. Cosme (New York City, USA)

24. Quintonil (Mexico City, Mexico)

25. Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen (Paris, France)

26. Boragó (Santiago, Chile)

27. The Clove Club (London, United Kingdom)

28. Blue Hill at Stone Barns (Pocantico Hills, USA)

29. Piazza Duomo (Alba, Italy)

30. Elkano (Getaria, Spain)

31. Le Calandre (Rubano, Italy)

32. Nerua (Bilbao, Spain)

33. Lyle’s (London, United Kingdom)

34. Don Julio (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

35. Atelier Crenn (San Francisco, USA)

36. Le Bernardin (New York City, USA)

37. Alinea (Chicago, USA)

38. Hiša Franko (Kobarid, Slovenia)

39. A Casa do Porco (São Paulo, Brazil)

40. Restaurant Tim Raue (Berlin, Germany)

41. The Chairman (Hong Kong)

42. Belcanto (Lisbon, Portugal)

43. Hof Van Cleve (Kruishoutem, Belgium)

44. Test Kitchen (Cape Town, South Africa)

45. Sühring (Bangkok, Thailand)

46. De Librije (Zwolle, Netherlands)

47. Benu (San Francisco, USA)

48. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet (Shanghai, China)

49. Leo (Bogotá, Colombia)

50. Schloss Schauenstein (Fürstenau, Switzerland)

Topics

the world's 50 best restaurants 2019 world's best restaurants best chefs mirazur odette noma cosme atelier crenn

Tatler Asia

Mirazur By Chef Mauro Colagreco Is The First French Restaurant To Top The World’s 50 Best Restaurants List

Here is the full list of winners: