The World's 50 Best Restaurants of 2023: No Lagos Restaurant Found
The World's 50 Best Restaurants of 2023 have been announced, and to our surprise, there’s no Lagos restaurant on the list. These guys clearly haven’t been to Slice.
Anyway, let's talk about the guys that actually won stuff. The numero uno spot was snagged by Central, a Peruvian restaurant run by Virgilio Martínez and Pia León. Their tasting menu is like a gastronomic tour of Peru - minus the airfare. The U.S. didn't exactly hit a home run this year, with only two restaurants making the cut. Just two more than Lagos. We’re almost the same.
Atomix, a Korean restaurant in New York City, climbed the ranks like a ninja, jumping over 20 spots from last year’s No. 33. The other U.S. contender was Le Bernardin, a French seafood restaurant that barely made the list at No. 44.
Image courtesy of BellaNaija
But here's where things get interesting. The "One to Watch" award was bagged by Tatiana, a restaurant run by none other than our very own Nigerian chef, Kwame Onwuachi. Now, isn't that something to puff our chests about? He visited RSVP in 2018 so we can claim it.
And speaking of Nigeria, let's not forget about Ikoyi, a London-based restaurant co-owned by a Nigerian, Iré Hassan-Odukale. Ire was like 3 years my senior in secondary school so I can famz this one extra. Serving a Nigerian-inspired menu, Ikoyi has carved out a significant niche in the culinary world, securing the 35th spot on the list. This is a testament to the global appeal of Nigerian cuisine and the creativity of its chefs.
Now, let's take a detour to the 51-100 list, where Africa is making more noise. The Test Kitchen in Cape Town, South Africa, led by Chef Luke Dale-Roberts, is cooking up a storm at 73rd place. Another South African gem, Wolfgat, is making waves at 87th place with its sustainable and locally sourced menu.
These African restaurants are not just serving up delicious food; they're serving up culture, identity, and innovation on a plate. They're showing the world that Africa is a continent to watch out for in the culinary scene.
So, what's the takeaway from all this? Well, it's clear that the culinary world has not heard about all the bistros in Lagos.
Oh well, here's to the chefs, the hashtag foodies, and everyone who appreciates a good meal.