Every region of the world seems to have one. I don’t know why they call them “Nr 1 in the World” when there are so many, according to many different associations, rating companies, and clubs.

There can only be one number one!? So, how about rating them from 1 to 100, however, rated by a reputable, worldwide, non-profit society, similar to the United Nations, for example, when it comes to global politics?

I feel it is unfair to the thousands of Chefs around the world who most probably are just as innovative, creative, and talented as those called number 1 by a “for-profit” society or association selling memberships, books, and rating directories.

Some of the greatest Chefs I have known and met such as Fredy Girardet (Swiss), and  Hans Stucky ✞ (Swiss, God bless his culinary soul) his restaurant is now run by Tanja Grandits a great Chef, Charlie Trotter ✞ (USA) The Haeberlin Brothers (France) Paul Bocuse ✞ (France) besides Bocuse I don’t think the other ones were called the best in the world, they were, however, ranked best in their country or region.

In Annecy, France, there is Jean Sulpice at the ” Auberge du Pere Bise” doing a fantastic job.

In South Florida, where I lived for 40 years, there are some amazing Chefs today, places like “Cafe Maxx” in Pompano Beach, where Chef Oliver has been at the helm for many years now, serving consistently great food.  There is Chef Kal  Abdalla at “A Fish Called Avalon” in Miami Beach. He was a protegé of mine back in the late ’70s, and he turns out some amazing dishes at this South Ocean Drive restaurant. 

Well, according to just a few of the world’s rating associations, here are some of their elected number ones! Which they do most probably well deserve, but let’s not forget the ones that are not so privileged to receive the exposure and credit they deserve, reasons for that could be many different ones, the owner of the establishment can not afford to pay for the subscriptions of certain magazines or publications, or maybe the owner doesn’t want to share the talent in the kitchen with the rest of the world, especially if the restaurant is already successfully packed every night, or it could also be that the chef doesn’t have the self-confidence, endurance or patience to reach the stars, you can’t be good on Monday and Tuesday and mediocre on Thursday and Friday, you have to be great and consistent seven days a week! “you are only as good as your last meal” in this business!

°from “World’s 50 Best Restaurants”

Mauro Colagreco Nr. 1 in the world’s best

Mauro Colagreco, number 1 in “World’s 50 Best”, cooks in the Kulm St. Moritz, Switzerland, during the winter. A pop-up deluxe! Mauro Colagreco takes over from «Mirazur» in Menton on the Côte d’Azur. His references: three stars from Michelin. 18 points from Gault-Millau France. And quite a title: The smart Argentine is number 1 in the prestigious list “World’s 50 Best!”.

www.kulm.com.     www.mirazur.fr

Fotos: Matteo Carassale, EduardoTorres, Gian Giovanoli, Lopez de Zubiria

°According to “Le Chef”, this is a compilation of the 100 best chefs in the world for 2019, naming Arnaud Donckele from the LA VAGUE D’OR Restaurant in Saint-Tropez as Nr 1.

°from The Best Chef Awards 2019, Top 10 chefs in the world:

 1. Björn Frantzén | Frantzén | Stockholm, Sweden

2. Joan Roca | El Celler de Can Roca | Girona, Spain

3. David Muñoz | DiverXo | Madrid, Spain

4. Grant Achatz | Alinea | Chicago, USA

5. Mateu Casañas, Oriol Castro and Eduard Xatruch | Disfrutar | Barcelona, Spain

6. Virgilio Martinez | Central | Lima, Peru

7. Mauro Colagreco | Mirazur | Menton, France

8. Rene Redzepi | Noma 2.0 | Copenhagen, Denmark

9. Vladimir Mukhin | White Rabbit | Moscow, Russia

 10. Jonnie Boer | De Librije | Zwolle, The Netherlands

from The International Congress of World Chefs:

Nr 1 is Thomas Keller, according to them, the most popular American chef

°from France’s Michelin Guide 2020:

• 1 Alain Ducasse – 19 Michelin Stars
• 2 Pierre Gagnaire – 14 Michelin Stars
• 3 Martin Berasategui – 12 Michelin Stars
• 4 Yannick Alleno – 10 Michelin Stars
• 5 Anne-Sophie Pic – 8 Michelin stars
• 6 Gordon Ramsay – 7 Michelin stars
• 7 Thomas Keller – 7 Michelin stars
• 8 Yoshihiro Murata – 7 Michelin stars
• 9 Seiji Yamamoto – 7 Michelin Stars
• 10 Andreas Caminada – 7 Michelin stars
• 11 Heston Blumenthal – 6 Michelin stars
• 12 Masahiro Yoshitake – 6 Michelin Stars
• 13 Heinz Beck – 5 Michelin stars
• 14 Jordi Cruz – 5 Michelin stars
• 15 Paco Perez – 5 Michelin stars
• 16 Quique Dacosta – 5 Michelin stars
• 17 Special Mention: Joël Robuchon – 31 Michelin stars Joël Robuchon, known as the ‘Chef of the Century,’ passed away on 6 August 2018. At the time, he was decorated with 28 stars, more than any other chef in the world. This French chef is known as the pioneer of the post-nouvelle cuisine era, and his relentless perfectionism has translated into a more authentic, timeless French cuisine.

is considered the Oscar of fine dining. 20 minutes (a Swiss online newspaper) attended together with star chef Nenad Mlinarevic the Award Night in Bilbao.

Rating systems such as Michelin stars or Gault Millau points have been deciding for decades whether or not to be gourmet restaurants. Since 2002, “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants” has also been a part of the game and presents a yearly list of the 50 best restaurants around the world.

Despite criticizing the non-transparent rating methodology, the rating of “50 Best” has become one of the most respected gourmet food rankings, as shown last week at this year’s “50 Best” Awards Night in Bilbao. Not one of the 50 listed top chefs missed being part of the award ceremony.

A high rating means little freedom and being in a pressure cooker!

Also part of the party: the Swiss star chef Nenad Mlinarevic (37), who earned two Michelin stars and 18 Gault Millau points for the restaurant Focus in the Parkhotel Vitznau. He said goodbye to the Star Kitchen last year, set up his own business, first opened a pop-up restaurant in Zurich (Stadthalle), and now, with two partners, opened the Bauernschänke in Zurich’s Niederdorf.

“Without awards, I am free of pressure and can use my knowledge in many ways”, Mlinarevic explains his decision.

Das Rating von «The World’s 50 Best Restaurants»

gilt als der Oscar des Fine Dining. 20 Minuten war mit Starkoch Nenad Mlinarevic a der Award Night in Bilbao.

Bewertungssysteme wie Michelin-Sterne oder Gault-Millau-Punkte entscheiden seit Jahrzehnten über Sein oder Nichtsein von Gourmet-Restaurants. Seit 2002 mischt auch «The World’s 50 Best Restaurant» in diesem Spiel mit und präsentiert jährlich eine Liste mit den 50 besten Restaurants rund um den Globus

Das Rating von «50 Best» hat sich trotz Kritik an der intransparenten Bewertungsmethodik zu einer der meistbeachteten Ranglisten für Feinschmecker gemausert, wie sich letzte Woche an der diesjährigen «50 Best»-Award Night im baskischen Bilbao zeigte. Kein einziger der 50 gelisteten Topköche liess es sich nehmen, an der Verleihung präsent zu sein.

Eine hohe Bewertung bedeutet wenig Freiheiten und viel stress!

Ebenfalls mit von der Partie: der Schweizer Starkoch Nenad Mlinarevic (37), der für das Restaurant Focus im Parkhotel Vitznau zwei Michelin-Sterne und 18 Gault-Millau-Punkte erkochte. Von der Sterneküche hat er sich letztes Jahr verabschiedet, sich selbständig gemacht, erst ein Pop-up-Restaurant in Zürich (Stadthalle) und jetzt mit zwei Partnern die Bauernschänke im Zürcher Niederdorf eröffnet.

«Ohne Auszeichnungen bin ich frei von Druck und kann mein Wissen vielfältig einsetzen», erklärt Mlinarevic seinen Entscheid. 

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