French restaurant with a global outlook wins World's 50 Best Restaurant Awards

Chef Mauro Colagreco, Mirazur (Menton, France)

A new rule introduced this year rendered previous winners of the World's 50 Best Restaurant Awards from being eligible for the list, meaning this year’s world's best restaurant took many by surprise.

Mediterranean venue Mirazur has taken the number one spot at the World's 50 Best Restaurant Awards.

Led by Argentinian-Italian chef Mauro Colagreco, Mirazur is located in Menton, France, near the Italian border. The latest accolade culminates a successful year that began with Mirazur being awarded its third Michelin star.

Speaking at the award ceremony at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Colagreco said "cuisine is able to cross all kinds of borders."

"It's incredible, I don't have words to explain - it's something so special, all the work, all the love of my team to achieve this award is something so special for us for me and Julia [his wife]," he said.

Rene Redzepi’s former number one restaurant Noma, eligible for the top spot due to its new Copenhagen location, made it to second place. Spanish flame grilled restaurant Asador Etxebarri took third place, Bangkok's Gaggan, which has topped the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list a record four times, took fourth place and was again named the Best Restaurant in Asia.

The new change to the judging excluded New York's Eleven Madison Park, The French Laundry in California, The Fat Duck near London and last year's winner, Osteria Francescana from Modena in Italy. These restaurants will instead enter a 'Best of the Best' program, which is still being developed.

Mexican-born Daniela Soto-Innes was named World's Best Female Chef.

"As a Mexican woman leading a diverse team, I believe with every day, every meal, every guest, we can fight against the ignorance and prejudice which tells us our voices shouldn't be heard [...] Not only does our happiness matter, but we can spread it," she said.

Jessica Préalpato, from Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée in Paris, was named World's Best Pastry Chef.

Spanish-American chef José Andrés won the Icon Award, in recognition of his work as founder of World Central Kitchen, a non-profit dedicated to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters.

Alain Passard, head chef of Paris restaurant Arpege, took home the Chefs' Choice Award.

The world's 50 best restaurants:

1. Mirazur (Menton, France)
2. Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark) *Highest-ever new entry*
3. Asador Etxebarri (Axpe, Spain)
4. Gaggan (Bangkok) *best restaurant in Asia*
5. Geranium (Copenhagen, Denmark)
6. Central (Lima, Peru) *best restaurant in South America*
7. Mugaritz (San Sebastian, Spain)
8. Arpege (Paris, France) Alain Passard's place
9. Disfrutar (Barcelona, Spain) *last year's highest new entry*
10. Maido (Lima, Peru)
11. Den (Tokyo, Japan) *Art of Hospitality Award*
12. Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico) *Best Restaurant in North America*
13. White Rabbit (Moscow, Russia)
14. Azurmendi (Larrabetzu, Spain) *Highest Climber Award*
15. Septime (Paris, France)
16. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée (Paris, France)
17. Steirereck (Vienna, Austria)
18. Odette (Singapore)
19. Twins Garden (Moscow, Russia) *new entry*
20. Tickets (Barcelona, Spain)
21. Frantzén (Stockholm, Sweden)
22. Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan)
23. Cosme (New York City)
24. Quintonil (Mexico City, Mexico)
25. Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen (Paris, France)
26. Boragó (Santiago, Chile)
27. The Clove Club (London, UK)
28. Blue Hill at Stone Barns (Pocantico Hills, New York)
29. Piazza Duomo (Alba, Italy)
30. Elkano (Getaria, Spain)
31. Le Calandre (Rubano, Italy)
32. Nerua (Bilbao, Spain)
33. Lyle's (London, UK)
34. Don Julio (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
35. Atelier Crenn (San Francisco)
36. Le Bernardin (New York City)
37. Alinea (Chicago)
38. 38. Hiša Franko (Kobarid, Slovenia)
39. A Casa do Porco (São Paulo, Brazil)
40. Restaurant Tim Raue (Berlin, Germany)
41. The Chairman (Hong Kong, China)
42. Belcanto (Lisbon, Portugal)
43. Hof van Cleve (Kruishoutem, Belgium)
44. Test Kitchen (Cape Town, South Africa) *Best restaurant in Africa*
45. Sühring (Bangkok, Thailand)
46. De Librije (Zwolle, Netherlands)
47. Benu (San Francisco)
48. Ultraviolet (Shanghai, China)
49. Leo (Bogotá, Colombia)
50. Schloss Schauenstein (Fürstenau, Switzerland)

Sheridan Randall, 26^th June 2019