Elite Traveler Summer 2019

elite traveler SUMMER 2019 79

NORWAY

7 UK

REPUBLICOF IRELAND

DENMARK GERMANY

1

BELGIUM

RUSSIA

CANADA

NETHERLANDS

AUSTRIA SWITZERLAND

FRANCE

SPAIN

MONACO

USA

4

JAPAN

ITALY

CHINA

MEXICO

1

INDIA

PERU

BRAZIL

AUSTRALIA

SOUTHAFRICA

12

10

5

5

3

3

Above and right World map showing number of restaurants by country; the gastronomic hubs with the highest concentration of restaurants on the list

CHICAGO

SAN FRANCISCO

PARIS

NEWYORK LONDON MEXICOCITY

THE TRENDS

countries remain consistent. France (18), Spain (eight), Italy (seven) and the UK (seven) all follow in number of restaurants featured, with Germany climbing to join their ranks with six restaurants. Peru and Russia are new entries this year, with Virgilio Martínez’s Central coming in at number 99 and Vladimir Mukhin’s White Rabbit entering at 84. Turn to p91 to hear fromMukhin, winner of the Rising Star 2019 award, on his approach to Russia’s cuisine and cooking traditions. Read on for inspiring interviews with head chefs and delectable images of their signature dishes — and to discover if your favorites have made the list.

feat, especially considering that last year’s highest new entry, SingleThread Farms, was placed at number 86 by our readers. Find our interview with Clare Smyth on p86. The highest existing climbers are based in France, but outside the restaurant behemoth Paris, carving out their niches in the rolling French countryside. Both Anne-Sophie Pic in Valence and Mirazur in Menton on the stunning Côte d’Azur have climbed an impressive 11 places. New York’s dominance over the list has slightly decreased, and this has in turn dropped the percentage of US establishments to 26 percent (down from 28 percent in 2018). Other than the US’s slight drop, the top performing

A new number one! For many years the top spots on the list have been a constant rotation between Alinea, Azurmendi and Eleven Madison Park, each climbing and falling a few spots, jostling for position. This year is a different story, with last year’s number nine, Restaurant de l’Hôtel de Ville in Crissier, Switzerland, sweeping in and claiming the crown. Open for over 55 years, now helmed by chef Franck Giovannini, the restaurant prides itself on being family-centered and welcoming. Turn to p80 to read our interview with Giovannini. Of the four new entries, British fine-dining restaurant Core by Clare Smyth is the highest placing, storming in at number 50 — no mean