Aussie gems among world's best
His Guava and Custard Apple Snow Egg may have brought him to the attention of Australian MasterChef fans, but Sydney chef Peter Gilmore's culinary skills have once again earned him a coveted spot in a prestigious international list.
Gilmore's Quay is the only Australian restaurant to score a spot in the 2012 S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants list.
Quay has been ranked 29th – moving down three spots from 2011 - and taken out the 2012 Best Restaurant in Australasia award.
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For the third year in a row, top spot in the list was taken out by Danish chef Rene Redzepi's establishment, Noma, when the awards were announced in London this morning (Perth time).
Not only is Noma the world's best restaurant, but it has also been given the title of the 2012 Best Restaurant in Europe.
Two Spanish restaurants, El Celler de Can Roca and Mugaritz, have scored second and third spots (respectively) – holding on to their ranking from last year.
Sydney-based celebrity chef Tetsuya Wakuda may have missed out on a top-50 position for his acclaimed Australian restaurant Tetsuya's (76th), but his new establishment in Singapore has scored highly.
In 2011, Tetsuya's was dropped from the top 50; moving to 58th spot. It was the first time since the prestigious awards began in 2002 that Tetsuya's had missed a spot in the top 50.
But this year, the Japanese chef's Waku Ghin restaurant in Singapore's Marina Bay Sands complex has been ranked 39th.
Sydney restaurant Marque, the award-winning establishment of West Australian-raised chef Mark Best, has missed out on a top-50 spot, but still scored highly.
Marque climbed seven spots from 2011; coming in at 61 in the top 100.
Melbourne restaurant Attica - featuring chef Ben Shewry - took out 63rd position.
Revered chef Thomas Keller from the United States is the Lifetime Achievement Award Winner of 2012.
Keller's "iconic" Californian restaurant The French Laundry (43rd) "effectively revolutionised" American cooking and topped the World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2003 and 2004. It now sits at number 43.
But his New York establishment, Per Se, which has been described as setting an equally high standard of food and service, has climbed four spots on the prestigious restaurant ladder to claim sixth spot.
Per Se also received the Best Restaurant in North America award.
Chef Daniel Boulud (Daniel), Rafael Anson (academy chairman, Spain), chef Thomas Keller (Per Se) and Australian chef Tetsuya Wakuda (Waku Ghin, Tetsuya's). Picture: World's 50 Best Restaurants 2012 sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna
Also among the individual award recipients, French restaurant Le Grenouillere has been touted as The One to Watch; Elena Arzak has been crowned as the World's Best Female Chef; celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal's London restaurant Dinner has received the Highest New Entry award and Australian chef Brett Graham's restaurant The Ledbury in London has been given the Highest Climber award.
The Slow Food UK award went to Steirereck in Austria; Mugaritz chef Andoni Luis Aduriz received the Chefs' Choice award; fourth-ranked D.O.M took out the 2012 Best Restaurant in South America; and Singapore restaurant Iggy's (26th) scored the 2012 Best Restaurant in Asia.
The introduction of Asia's 50 Best restaurants - as voted for by the World's 50 Best Restaurants Academy - will highlight the region's best establishments. The list is expected to be announced in Singapore in early 2013.
The 2012 S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants.
