Coi & French Laundry Awarded San Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – During a ceremony in Central London on Monday, San Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants for 2014 was announced. For some Bay Area residents, it does not come to any surprise that two of our own restaurants have been voted amongst the best in the world. Although, you may want to keep your foodie travels to the Bay Area if you were thinking of visiting all 50 restaurants. Most of the winners are in Europe.
Thomas Keller's French Laundry in Yountville moved up several notches from last year, placing them at #44. Serving up modern California cuisine, Daniel Patterson's San Francisco restaurant Coi makes the list for the first time at #49.
An honorable mention went to Saison on Townsend Street in San Francisco as being the "One to Watch Restaurant." Saison was also voted Best New-American Restaurant in the City by Zagat.
Taking the number #1 spot, once again is Noma in Copenhagen. This is their second win since 2010. "It's too (expletive deleted) crazy!" said Noma's head chef, Rene Redzepi, picking up the award. "Thank you for believing in us." Before closing its doors in 2011, Spain's El Bulli claimed four successive wins. Spain's El Celler de Can Roca, was bumped down from last year to second place, with Italy's Osteria Francescana at the number three position.
"This is the big one," contest chairman Richard Vines told CNN ahead of the awards. "Although you can argue about the list, everyone wants to be on it."
900 restaurant industry figures comprised the deciding votes.