Osteria Francesca Named World’s Best Restaurant
This years World’s 50 Best Restaurants list found Osteria Francescana of Modena, Italy taking home the top spot; making it the first Italian restaurant to ever take home the leading honor. Chef and owner, Massimo Bottura, stood out to over 1000 voters worldwide with his contemporary Italian dishes. After two years of coming in second on the list, Bottura finally finds himself in the winners spot.
Located in the back streets of Modena, Osteria Francescana pays homage to the the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy with a unique contemporary menu. While Bottura still offers an a la carte menu, his best dishes are from his tasting menu in which he combines Italian tradition with modern gastronomy. One of the more famous dishes, the Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano, allows customers to explore the Italian region’s infamous formaggio through a combination of temperature, texture and taste.
Bottura credits his early passion in the kitchen to pasta, and the fond memories of forming homemade tortellini with his grandmother. Today Bottura combines deep-rooted Italian heritage with the stylistic impressions of today’s culinary world, often describing his work as “seeing tradition 10km away.”
After moving up to the number one spot on the list, Bottura knocked El Celler de Can Roca, in Catalonia, Spain, to second place. Eleven Madison Park in Manhattan found itself moving up in the ranks this year as it took home third place, two spots above its fifth spot placement the year before.
While the 50 Best Restaurants list brings chefs from around the world together, there is some scrutinization from the culinary community. Many wonder if it is possible to organize restaurants from around the world all with different cooking styles. After all, each dining experience has its own unique identity and culture that is specific to its origins. Many chefs worry whether or not lobbying voters through free meals and specialized P.R. has created a shift in the authenticity of the list.
Another fear that plagues the minds of chefs and the culinary community is the possibility that the list favors innovative gastronomy over traditional cuisine practices. The World’s 50 Best Restaurants did state on their website that the one issue that was stacked against Boturra was Italian tradition and its tendency to stray towards strong habitual food standards.
Regardless of criticisms facing the list, it is clear that Massimo Boturra’s skills garnered through traditional Italian cuisine working in cohesion with modernistic style make him a clear choice for the number one spot. With reservations booked three months ahead of time, it is no wonder the Emilian chef and owner is making headlines.
– Ashley Curtis
