There were many bets about who will win the title of the World’s Best Restaurant this year. For me, Osteria Francescana was not a bet but my desire. Last year at the after party of the award ceremony Massimo Bottura and Lara, his wife, told me how winning the title in New York would have a special meaning for them because it’s where they met and fell in love. And we love such happy endings, don’t we?
But this is only the cherry on the pie – the beautiful accent on the top of happiness which makes the win even sweeter. Massimo Bottura deserved this win because of his incredible creativity, his infinite passion, his boldness which allowed him to play with the Italian most sacred value in the kitchen – the tradition! – and to inspire the new generation of chefs to dare doing the same! He earned this win with his incredible endurance, with his great effort in reinventing himself daily, being omnipresent worldwide and to inspire the society around him with different actions – Refettorio Ambrosiano being only one of them.
My big respect for all the restaurants who made it not only between 50 best, but also between 100. With the event embracing all the world and with so many new chefs and concepts entering, it’s getting harder and harder to enter the highest positions. But I sincerely believe that everybody on the list is a winner – and the best for many of us. Every restaurant is different – in the concept, sensibility, background … what unites them is an infinite passion and love, a beautiful creativity and warm hospitality and so each of them is best in its own way.
All who follow their mission with so much love and perseverance are winners, so big congratulations to all!
See the entire list at http://www.theworlds50best.com/
Read the press release here.
