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Noma wins World's Best Restaurant hat-trick

Published:  01 May, 2012

Copenhagen restaurant Noma has won the World's Best Restaurant title for the third consecutive year, due to chef René Redzepi's "meticulous attention to detail and innovative approach".

Only three restaurants in the UK made it into the World's 50 Best Restaurants and, for the first time in the 10-year history, none of them were in the top five.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in London came in at number nine, to take the Highest New Entry award, as well as establishing itself as the UK's highest-placed restaurant, while the Fat Duck slipped from fifth place to 13th.

Australian Brett Graham, whose London establishment the Ledbury was last year's Highest New Entry, rose 20 places to number 14, taking the Highest Climber award.

Europe remains the dominant force in the 2012 list, with strong offerings from France, which has seven restaurants listed, five of which are in the top 20.

Spain saw five restaurants enter the list, including Arzak at number eight, whose joint head chef Elena Arzak was awarded the Veuve Clicquot World's Best Female Chef accolade.

The country's El Celler de Can Roca in Girona took second place, while in third was Mugaritz in San Sebastián.



The Chefs' Choice award, voted for by the World's 50 Best chefs, was also presented to Andoni Luis Aduriz of Mugaritz in San Sebastian, which was devastated by a fire two 
years ago.


New for this year was the inclusion of the Slow Food UK award, which was presented to the Steirereck from Vienna.

Sponsored by Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky, the award champions chefs and restaurants that support small-scale producers and sustainably sourced quality produce.

The event is sponsored by San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, and organised by Restaurant magazine.

Top 10

1. Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark

2. El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain

3. Mugaritz, San Sebastián, Spain

4. D.O.M., São Paolo, Brazil

5. Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy

6. Per Se, New York, US

7. Alinea, Chicago, US

8. Arzak, San Sebastián, Spain

9. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London, UK

10. Eleven Madison Park, New York, US

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