Historically, France has reigned supreme when it comes to haute cuisine but that's all changing. This week the United States joined France as the country with the most restaurants on the 2013 World's 50 Best Restaurants list, which is sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna.
Both countries have six restaurants on the list but the United States surpassed France in the top 10. The highest ranking restaurant in America is New York City's Eleven Madison Park, which came in at #5. We then see Thomas Keller's Per Se ranked #11 and Chicago's Alinea #15 before France appears on the list with L'Apège in Paris at #16.
American bragging rights aside, the evolution of this shift is worth exploring. Considering that classic French cooking is taught in culinary schools across the nation as the building blocks of Western cuisine, it's fair to say that France laid out this path for America.
Pictured: Eleven Madison Park team, left to right Jamal James Kent, Daniel Humm, Will Guidara
Keller is a self-professed ''Francophile'' and has made a career of putting a modern spin on French classics. Until the opening his succesive restaurants, The French Laundry in Napa Valley was considered the best restaurant in America. It now stands at #47 on the list. The French Laundry was were chefs like Grant Achatz cut their teeth before branching out on their own and becoming successful.
We must not forget the contributions of accomplished French chefs who've made America their home. Especially, Eric Ripert from New York City's Le Bernardin, which came in at #19, and Daniel Boulud whos restaurant Daniel holds spot #29.
To illustrate these changing dynamics, Big Hospitality has published an infographic explaining the influence each winning country has on World's 50 Best Restaurants list.
Each country's influence was calculated using the ranking of each restaurant. For instance, restaurant #50 gets one point while the top restaurant receives 50 points, and so on.
You'll note Spain is another major player in fine dining with Girona's El Celler de Can Roca winning the top spot this year. Mugaritz and Arzak also feature in the top 10, at #4 and #8, respectively.
Mexico is the only country represnting Latin America but watch out for the rise of Peruvian cusine.
Pictured above, left to right: Eric Ripert, Thomas Keller, Daniel Patterson and Daniel Boulud
Via Big Hospitality
