Here at Deco Belle Inc., we love jewelry, accessories, traveling, exploring, and food! Food the world over, delicacies that are not easily replicated across the globe, yes, we love that. This week, the San Pellegrino sponsored 50 (and 100) Best Restaurants in the World list has been published. We have not yet been to the top three, but did do a bit of research to prepare ourselves for when we find ourselves in the neighborhood, and for our blog followers to enjoy as well:
#1 - Noma in Copenhegen, Denmark has not only taken the top ranking of Best Restaurant in the World (according to Restaurant Magazine, sponsored by San Pellegrino) for 2011, but has also earned this prestigious position last year as well. Run by acclaimed chef René Redzepi, the restaurant boasts two Michelin stars.Known for its reinvention and interpretation of the Nordic cuisine, the name is an acronym of the two Danish words "nordisk" (Nordic) + "mad" (food) = noma. A modern take on Nordic cuisine, the restaurant itself is located in an old warehouse on the waterfront in the Christianshavn neighbourhood of the Danish capital, near the Greenlandic Trading Square (Danish: Grønlandske Handels Plads). The square itself references Greenland, but only because this square was for 200 years the hub of trade to and from the Faroe Islands, Finnmark, Iceland, and in particular, Greenland. The goods were stored in the warehouse here, before being traded off to European markets.
From reviews that we have read on various blogs and travel websites, the standard here is 12 courses, one reviewer noted that the meal lasted 3.5 hours. An interesting course was a clay garden pot filled with edible soil (made with malt). Way to think out of the box.One comment read "Worth every Øre (penny)", and another noted that it is worth adding yourself to the waiting list as that is how they earned a seat in this award winning establishment.
#2 - El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Catalonia, Spain. This family restaurant is founded and operated by three brothers specializing in traditional Catalan meals, with the eldest brother, Joan Roca as head chef, middle brother Josep Roca being the sommelier, and the youngest brother Jordi Roca in charge of the desserts. The three Michelin star restaurant has steadily risen in the Best Restaurants in the World ranking, starting in 2009 at 5th best in the world, then in 2010 moving up one spot, to 4th best, and now making it to second best in 2011. (El Celler de Can Roca images courtesy of gastronomyblog.com) 
Prix fixe courses are set for the Feast Menu (9 courses and 2 desserts, €145), Tasting Menu (5 courses and 2 desserts, €115), and Signature Dishes Menu (3 courses and 1 dessert €95), and one can add on complimenting wine selections at €45 for a flight of wines.(Image: A plank of wood with anchovy bones embedded into rice tempura)
It is a 1.5 hour train ride through the countryside from Barcelona, and from what we read, well worth it. Also, the earliest booking is at 9pm, with meal times at traditional Spanish hours.
#3 - Mugaritz in San Sebastián, Spain, in a sleepy village to the south of town. A remote part of the city more like it, in a beautiful setting of the basque countryside, up windy roads and narrow streets.
This Spanish restaurant, like El Celler de Can Roca has also ascended to it's current position. In 2007, Mugaritz ranked as 7th best in the world, in 2008, it moved up to 4th best, now it has moved up to 3rd best in the world.
A tour of the kitchen is granted for inquiring guests. The clay potatoes pictured right, are mean to look like zen pebbles.The complete 50 Best Restaurants in the World list:
1. Noma, Denmark
2. El Celler De Can Roca, Spain (+2)
3. Mugaritz, Spain (+2)
4. Osteria Francescana, Italy (+2)
5. The Fat Duck, UK (-2)
6. Alinea, USA (+1)
7. D.O.M, Brazil (+11)
8. Arzak, Spain (+1)
9. Le Chateaubriand, France (+2)
10. Per Se, USA
11. Daniel, USA (-3)
12. Les Creations de Narisawa, Japan (+12)
13. L’Astrance, France (+3)
14. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon Paris, France (+15)
15. Hof van Cleve, Belgium (+2)
16. Pierre Gagnaire, France (-3)
17. Oud Sluis, Netherlands (+2)
18. Le Bernardin, USA (-3)
19. L’Arpege, France
20. Nihonryori RyuGin, Japan (+28)
21. Vendome, Germany (+1)
22. Steirereck, Austria (-1)
23. Schloss Schauenstein, Switzerland (+7)
24. Eleven Madison Park, USA (+26)
25. Aqua, Germany (+9)
26. Quay, Australia
27. Iggy’s, Singapore (+1)
28. Combal Zero, Italy (+7)
29. Martin Berasategui, Spain (+4)
30. Bras, France
31. Biko, Mexico (+15)
32. Le Calandre, Italy (-12)
33. Cracco, Italy
34. The Ledbury, UK (new)
35. Chez Dominique, Finland (-12)
36. Le Quartier Francais, South Africa (-5)
37. Amber, China (new)
38. Dal Pescatore, Italy (-2)
39. Il Canto, Italy (+1)
40. Momofuku Ssam Bar, USA (-14)
41. St John, UK (+2)
42. Astrid Y Gaston, Peru (new)
43. Hibiscus, UK (+6)
44. La Maison Troisgros, France
45. Alain Ducasse Au Plaza Athenee, France (-4)
46. De Librije, Netherlands (-9)
47. Restaurant de l’Hotel De Ville, Switzerland (-33)
48. Varvary, Russia (new)
49. Pujol, Mexico (new)
50. Asador Etxebarri, Spain
The 51-100 Best Restaurants in the World list:
51. Quique Dacosta, Spain
52. Mathias Dahlgren,Sweden
53. Attica, Australia
54. De Karmeliet, Belgium
55. Les Amis, Singapore
56. The French Laundry, USA
57. Frantzen/Lindeberg, Sweden
58. Tetsuya’s, Australia
59. Fasano, Brazil
60. Hakkasan, UK
61. Rust en Vrede, South Africa
62. Jean Georges, USA
63. Oaxen Krog, Sweden
64. Bo Innovation, Hong Kong
65. Momofuku Ko, USA
66. Zuma, UK
67. Maison Pic, France
68. Mirazur, France
69. Manresa, USA
70. Marque, Australia
71. Fäviken, Sweden
72. L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Hong Kong
73. Die Schwarzwaldstube, Germany
74. Mani, Brazil
75. Coi, USA
76. Caprice, Hong Kong
77. Nahm, UK
78. La Grenouillère, France
79. Vila Joya, Portugal
80. Tantris, Germany
81. WD~50, USA
82. La Colombe, South Africa
83. Semifreddo, Russia
84. Le Gavroche, UK
85. The Bazaar, USA
86. La Pergola, Italy
87. Malabar, Peru
88. Gäste Haus Klaus Erfort, Germany
89. Bar Boulud, England
90. Kitcho Arashiyama, Japan
91. Blue Hill at Stone Barns, USA
92. Wasabi, India
93. Sant Pau, Spain
94. Akelare, Spain
95. Masa, USA
96. Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley, UK
97. Le Meurice, France
98. L’Arnsbourg, France
99. Chaika, Moscow
100. Andre, Singapore
