Skift Take
We hope to see some much needed diversity on the list this year.
It's that time of year again, when the world's most famous chefs gather for the industry's most famous (or, sometimes, infamous) awards show. The annual ranking of the World's 50 Best Restaurants, as decided by a semi-anonymous group of around 1,000 volunteer judges, is closely watched within the industry; receiving a high ranking on the list is akin to a lifetime achievement award, not to mention solid bookings for the coming year.
What to Expect
This might be more of a hope than an expectation, but more women chefs should be in more prominent positions on the list this year. Historically, the list has been something of a European boys club of nominees. It doesn't help that the organizers publish a separate "Best Female Chef" ranking, which smacks heavily of implied sexism and only serves to draw further ridicule. Clare Smyth, the British chef who won the top award this year, told The Washington Post that the ranking was "stupid."
People in the industry have speculated that Dominque Crenn will make a big leap ahead on the
