A couple of tourists studying their guide book in the courtyard of London's Guildhall were totally unaware of the people around them. It reminds me of when I followed the Rolling Stones on a bicycle along the canals in Amsterdam on their way to perform at Paradiso. Chatting to them on their boat; all the other people oblivious to the stars passing by. If the tourists had been aware of the attractions bathed in the fading sun, they would have witnessed the biggest gathering of the world's top chefs chatting and meeting old friends from around the globe - no security or P.R. police. Mutual respect and the enjoyment of being with your peers. It was great for us to meet up again with many of the chefs. Many had been in London for the day - Heston Blumenthal's new restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel - Dinner by Heston - had seen a total of 60 Michelin stars through the door in one day!
The beautiful weather prolonged the party before the chefs entered the gothic hall for the results of the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2011. In quick tempo, the top 50 restaurants discovered their position in the list. Rene Redzepi from Noma was voted number one for the second year running; the whole team celebrating with horned Viking helmets!. There were four Dutch chefs in the top 50 - Sergio Herman ( Oud Sluis - 17 ), Margot Janse ( Le Quartier Francais, South Africa - 36), Richard Ekkebus ( Amber, Hong Kong - 37 ) & Jonnie and Therese Boer ( De Librije - 46 ).
See the complete list here;
www.the worlds50best.com
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| Jonnie Boer, Heston Blumenthal & Sergio Herman - 9 Michelin stars |
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| Claude Bosi - Hibiscus - No.43 |
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| Rene Redzepi - No.1 |
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| Jonnie Boer, Therese Boer, Sergio Herman & Michel Herman |
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| Richard Ekkebus - Amber, Hong Kong |
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Thomas Keller - Per Se - No.10
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