The World's 50 Best Restaurants

Britain's Restaurant magazine recently published its annual list of 50 best restaurants in the world. Not surprisingly London, Paris and New York feature prominently:

1. The Fat Duck, England
2. El Bulli, Spain
3. The French Laundry, California
4. Tetsuya's, Sydney
5. Gordon Ramsay, London
6. Pierre Gagnaire, Paris
7. Per Se, New York
8. Tom Aikens, London
9. Jean Georges, New York
10. St John, London

11. Michel Bras Laguiole, France
12. Le Louis XV, Monte Carlo
13. Chez Panisse, California
14. Charlie Trotter, Chicago
15. Gramercy Tavern, New York
16. Guy Savoy, Paris
17. Restaurant Alain Ducasse, Paris
18. The Gallery at Sketch, London
19. The Waterside Inn Bray, Berkshire
20. Nobu, London

21. Restaurante Arzak San Sebastian, Spain
22. El Raco de Can Fabes San Celoni, Spain
23. Checcino dal 1887, Rome
24. Le Meurice, Paris
25. L'Hotel de Ville Crissier, Switzerland
26. L'Arpege, Paris
27. Angela Hartnett at the Connaught, London
28. Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, Oxford
29. Le Cinq, Paris

30. Hakkasan, London
31. Cal Pep, Barcelona
32. Masa, New York
33. Flower Drum, Melbourne
34. WD50, New York
35. Le Quartier Francais Franschhoek, South Africa
36. Spice Market, New York
37. Auberge de l'Ill Illhaeusern, Alsace
38. Manresa, California
39. Restaurant Dieter Muller Begisch Gladbach, Germany

40. La Maison Troisgros Roanne, France
41. The Wolseley, London
42. Rockpool, Sydney
43. Yauatcha, London
44. The Ivy, London
45. Gambero Rosso San Vincenzo, Italy
46. The Cliff St James, Barbados
47. Le Gavroche, London
48. Enoteca Pinchiorri, Florence
49. Felix, Hong Kong
50. La Tupina, Bordeaux

And just like the Olympics =P, Australia doesn't do too badly for itself despite our modest population of 20 million. Three restaurants made the list, with Tetsuya's making the top four!

It's all about fine dining (and pricy degustations it would appear) but there are definitely some intriguing establishments. The Fat Duck's degustation menu features snail porridge; sardine on toast sorbet; salmon poached with liquorice; and, wait for it... smoked bacon and egg ice cream!

I've only made it to one restaurant on this list and I probably could have visited more throughout my travels (I used to loiter longingly outside Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's staring wistfully at the menu). But I was young. I was poor. I was a fool.

I could quite easily get to the other two Aussie flag-flyers. Then I just have to work on the plane ticket.

How many have you been to?