THE global authority on restaurants, 50 Best, is coming to the Middle East in February. The World’s 50 Best Restaurants is launching a Middle East and North Africa list for the first time, with a ceremony to be held in Abu Dhabi from February 4 to 8.
As well as the glittering ceremony where the region’s finest restaurants will be recognised, there are a series of immersive dining experiences with some of the world’s top chefs and masterclasses from the globe’s most forward-thinking culinary minds.
To find out more about the significance of the event, we spoke to William Drew, director of content for 50 Best.
Tell us more about 50 Best?
The 50 Best brand is the leading authority in global gastronomy, showcasing international trends, highlighting great restaurants from all over the world and inspiring diners to travel and explore. Since 2002, it has compiled the annual list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, providing a snapshot of the opinions and experiences of over 1,000 international restaurant industry experts. The 50 Best family also includes Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, 50 Best Discovery, 50 Next, The World’s 50 Best Bars, Asia’s 50 Best Bars and now the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants, launching February 2022.
How does it feel launching in the MENA region?
Following the success of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants over the last 19 years and the establishment of both Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants and Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, 50 Best decided to launch MENA’s 50 Best to shine a much-deserved spotlight on the region as a world-class culinary destination. This launch will mark the first time since 2013 – when both Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants and Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants were established – that 50 Best unveils a new regional restaurants list and awards programme so this is hugely exciting for us at 50 Best and for the MENA region.
What does it mean for the region’s F&B industry?
The MENA region’s rich, diverse and delicious culinary portfolio will gain some of the global attention it surely merits. We are confident that MENA’s 50 Best will inspire people to travel from within the region and internationally to visit in order to explore the culinary gems put in the spotlight by the awards and its surrounding events programme.
How does the judging work?
The inaugural ranking for the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants will reflect the best restaurant experiences based on the votes of more than 200 voters, made up of anonymous restaurant experts (including chefs, restaurateurs, food/restaurant journalists and well-travelled gourmets) from 19 countries across the entire region. Members of the 50 Best organisation do not vote and do not control the composition of the resulting list; that is the collective role of the voting Academy. This means that restaurants cannot apply to be on the list.
How do you ensure diversity and inclusivity?
As mentioned, the list is the result of the votes of more than 200 experts from across the MENA region, spanning 19 countries. The voters each selected their seven best restaurant experiences of any kind from the previous 24 months. There are no voting criteria, it’s up to each well-trusted expert to decide on their own criteria as to what makes a restaurant one of the ‘best’. Voters must remain anonymous – aside from the six regional Academy Chairs who have helped identify and recruit these well-travelled food lovers. The list is a computation of the total votes cast.
What happens once a restaurant is on the list?
We believe this launch can only be positive, not only for the restaurants on the list but for the region’s gastronomic community and travel and hospitality economies as a whole. Each 50 Best list shines a spotlight on establishments and individuals, which in turn have had a positive business and economic impact on those establishments and individuals, as well as creating awareness overall. The list and events surrounding it bring people together in a spirit of celebration and collaboration, inspiring new ideas and generating buzz around the restaurant sector, while also inspiring people to travel locally, regionally and globally to check out these restaurants.
Why is it being held in Abu Dhabi?
Over the last decade or more, the region has attracted major international chefs to open high-profile restaurants, which has, in turn, led to the more recent rise of home-grown talent, now gradually coming to the fore. Within the UAE, Abu Dhabi has been establishing itself as a culinary force for some time, with the launch of initiatives such as Abu Dhabi Culinary Season, the Emirati Cuisine Programme, and the Abu Dhabi Food Festival, providing broader cultural and hospitality experiences for both visitors and residents alike. This helped make it a positive choice to be the host city for the inaugural edition of MENA’s 50 Best.
What will the masterclasses and talks add for those in the F&B industry here already?
#50BestTalks will address some of the key issues around food and restaurants, and their role in society, as part of a vibrant, interactive and thought-provoking event. Additionally, the Masterclasses will give those in the F&B industry and consumers alike the rare opportunity to interact with some of the world finest chefs for a series of live cooking demonstrations.
We look forward to seeing everyone in Abu Dhabi from February 4 to 8 for the full MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants event programme. Tickets are on sale for consumer events here.
- Caterermiddleeast.com
