Noma Is The New World's Best Restaurant

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Apr 28th 2010 at 12:02AM

Forget El Bulli and The Fat Duck, there's a new world's best restaurant, Copenhagen's Noma. The two Michelin star-rated restaurant on Copenhagen's docks won first place in the S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurant awards recently. Young chef René Redzepi is the man behind the new restuarant which eschews molecular gastronomy and serves more down-to-earth fare like radishes in edible dirt. Redzepi is half Danish and half Macedonian and has, according to the Wall Street Journal, five full-time foragers on staff. All employees are expected to participate in harvesting produce. Noma doesn't use olive oil or nonseasonal garlic and all produce is from Denmark and neighboring Nordic countries. He has also use non-traditional ingredients like milk skin, wild beach roses, birch syrup and unripe elderberries. The seven course menu runs around $175 per person.

The awards are decided by regional committees made up of top chefs and food writers. El Bulli, Ferran Adria's restaurant and Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck didn't fall too far, they were ranked second and third.

The top U.S. restaurant, ranked seventh was Chicago's "best restaurant ever" Alinea which is headed by Grant Achatz and it was followed by Daniel in New York in the eighth slot. Other top-ranked U.S. restaurants included Thomas Keller's The French Laundry in Yountville, California in the 32nd slot and his Per Se in the tenth slot. Le Bernardin was 15th. New entries to the list from the U.S. included Wylie Dufresne's WD-50 at 45th and Eleven Madison Park rounding out the top 50 in the last slot.

Tags: copenhagen, denmark, noma, rene redzepi, worlds best restaurant

Filed under: Dining

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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)

doreen Apr 28th 2010 11:24PM

Hey Sal, read the article...It was about High class, not Low class (aka fast food) restaurants...We all know where they are, on every corner, you can even drive thru! Woo Hoo, no valet parking. How do you know if you go into a "classy" place if the people working are legal or illegal?? No, really I want to know! Should I go in the kitchen & ask for thier papers?

JC in VA Apr 28th 2010 11:41PM

yeah, especially they shouldn't be handling any radishes in edible dirt if they are already 'dirt'y. rotflmaoooooooooooooo

gs Apr 28th 2010 11:49PM

food sounds inventive and terrible - radishes are hardly a major incredient and i have no idea what edible dirt(soil) is - unripe elderberried would be better replaced by elder flowers which are delicious - where is the good stuff preparred properly - marrow bones, truffles, sea urchins, oysters, duck, pork, swans, peafowl, pigions, prime whiteface cattle, chicken hearts, schmeltz, turtle, turtle eggs, yellow raspberries, real ice cream, yellowfin tuna, octopus, squid, real pizza, real american bar-b-q, and manna from heavenin the form of french fries cooked in duck fat?

Ann Apr 28th 2010 11:44PM

These guys are selling "The Emperor's new clothes"

dude Apr 29th 2010 11:31AM

MMMMM radishes in edible dirt... no wonder they are the worlds best restaurant. Do you want some radishes in edible dirt??? NO MA!!!!!

Carroll Gregory Apr 29th 2010 12:47AM

My beautiful blonde granddaughter is a chef. I would love to see her on this site. Her name is Chef Lauren Gregory and she is available.

Lisa Apr 29th 2010 12:49AM

Excuse me, but I'd like to know exactly what is "edible dirt"? I've heard it said that everyone eats at least a fistful of dirt in one's lifetime. I've eaten more than that, but I wouldn't pay $175 for it. So, do the just pick the radishes and just leave the dirt on them? Food should be simple, and most of the people who oooh and aahh over some of these exotic concoctions, are like the people who go to MOMA (which I LOVE) and ooh and aahh over art they can't possibly comprehend, but it's chi-chi. I believe most people don't really know how to eat anyway. Some of the best food I've EVER had in my life has been in France, where food is TRULY an art, and where simplicity and taste reign. The regular fare is not laden with complicated sauces, and the ingredients are usually fresh, and simple meals often stir up lively conversation. There's nothing like walking through La Marche des Puces and eating hot frites with hot dijon mustard, or stopping at a Belgian waffle stand on the street, and getting a hot waffle sprinkled with powdered sugar. C'est si bon de gouter le bon gout.

Pete Aiello Apr 29th 2010 12:51AM

Good 'ole southern fried chicken works for me ! Without the dirt !

Pete Aiello Apr 29th 2010 12:54AM

It should have been named "NO-MO"

pokerkenn Apr 29th 2010 1:37AM

GRAND OPENING SOON---VOTED BEST RESTAURANT IN FLORIDA "ALL YOU CAN EAT",FRESH DIRT & RADISHES-JUST PLANTED TODAY. LOVELY OUTDOOR SEATING. A WHOLE LOT CHEAPER THAN $175.00 PER PERSON. NO RESERVATIONS NEEDED,NO WAITING.REQUESTS FOR REAL FOOD ALSO AVAILIBLE.

A. Ross Apr 29th 2010 1:53AM

Radishes in edible dirt??? Who's rating these people?

A. Ross Apr 29th 2010 1:59AM

Rafishes in edible dirt? I'd rather eat Texas 5-star chili!

A. Ross Apr 29th 2010 1:59AM

Huh?????

Parissa Apr 29th 2010 3:11AM

This is so much bull! I would venture to say that the majority of 'normal' people, were they to dine in "Noma," would be disappointed in the menu and the meals they ultimately ordered! From what little was shared about the restaurant, you won't fine me there! Ever! I'm a grilled chicken salad kind of gal ... when a recipe calls for oil, I use olive oil ... and I prefer my radishes without dirt! ;-)

Gwb5 Apr 29th 2010 4:57AM

"Do the people who decide these "best" restaurant awards ever visit any other cities except Chicago and New York?"

You do realize that Copenhagen is in DENMARK, yes? From the flurry of complaining comments about how the awards only go to NY restaurants, it could mean one of two things: the commenters didn't read the article, or like most Americans, they have no knowledge of geography.