tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post1687952499673959479..comments2024-03-19T09:45:21.051+00:00Comments on Eat Noodles Love Noodles: World's 50 Best Restaurants – Don't Make Me Laugh!Mr Noodleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13327242172810414292noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-78345873170459483262013-04-30T22:35:45.253+01:002013-04-30T22:35:45.253+01:00I totally agree with your views Mr. Noodles! I lov...I totally agree with your views Mr. Noodles! I love modern French cuisine but it is not the benchmark for restaurants to make it to the top especially in a place like Hong Kong. The panel should see more of Australia. Quay is excellent but there are others!Ramen Raffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647798669229630498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-48533751853802382332012-05-04T09:49:43.655+01:002012-05-04T09:49:43.655+01:00Anon - thanks for your insight. The 2012 World'...Anon - thanks for your insight. The 2012 World's Best list is similarly skewed to certain locations and styles of cuisine. I wonder if it'll ever be interesting, or will it just continue being a fashion parade.Mr Noodleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13327242172810414292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-65003699704724977642012-04-30T19:48:33.173+01:002012-04-30T19:48:33.173+01:00I have worked with David Thompson's original s...I have worked with David Thompson's original sous chefs as well as 3 years in the first Zuma. I thought they were great/ authentic/ etc until I went to Japan....<br />They have their place for newbie diners who want to be seen, but are nothing compared to the lowliest neighbourhood izakaya anywhere in Japan!<br />It seems that the restaurant with the largest marketing budget always wins...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-26033681852574781062011-05-01T09:35:36.670+01:002011-05-01T09:35:36.670+01:00Kay - any list is subjective and it isn't so m...Kay - any list is subjective and it isn't so much that they ignore the grubbier places but the fact that they seem to ignore entire cuisines and cities (except for a few token representatives) that wind me up.Mr Noodleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13327242172810414292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-56398699356056174182011-04-29T18:06:26.081+01:002011-04-29T18:06:26.081+01:00Any list is always subjective with some more than ...Any list is always subjective with some more than others. The voting panel is already flawed at the design level. Very well said. Unless the voting panel is happy to go to some places which might look grubby but their food puts some of the best to shame, we wont have a good representation. In the meantime I will just continue to ask the locals on their recommendations happily.Kay @ Chopstix2Steakniveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07356201055464846743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-82226065576056718132011-04-28T20:53:23.954+01:002011-04-28T20:53:23.954+01:00HK Epicurus - there are some great restaurants on ...HK Epicurus - there are some great restaurants on the list - it's just the lack of diversity in cuisine and location that wind me up. And as you rightly point out (as did Gourmet Chick), the neglect of Australia is criminal. <br /><br />Thinking more on this, I think having a Best 100 is intrinsically flawed - perhaps there is a case to have different categories/regions e.g. Best 20 Asian, Best 20 in Europe etc...Mr Noodleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13327242172810414292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-69200389378590285152011-04-27T18:55:05.939+01:002011-04-27T18:55:05.939+01:00I think to me, the result of The Ledbury making it...I think to me, the result of The Ledbury making it upto the Top 50 list (best new comer) kind of made me appreciate their change of appreciation of trend. I just blogged about that a few weeks back, and that meal was just soooo delicious - but not necessarily stunning in terms of appearance. It's homely food given a twist and pushed to its limit, without being alienating or incomprehensible. <br /><br />I would so love to fine there again, and order their other (better) signature dishes. The rest of the List? To be honest, I think El Celler de Can Roca was slightly over-rated, but that meal was still great. I just think it wasn't great enough to be no.2 in the world, I guess. There're plenty of restaurants in say Sydney or even Melbourne in Australia, which carries more surprises and similar execution. Down-South is where they become overly neglected, I mean, Quay to me is good, but definitely not the outright best resto down-under. I could think of at least 10 or 12 alternatives..!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15951478222064972637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-72181978705553098082011-04-26T21:20:39.062+01:002011-04-26T21:20:39.062+01:00Mzungu - fear of legal action meant my initial dra...Mzungu - fear of legal action meant my initial draft didn't see the light of day. Phrases like 'culinary imperialists' might have got me into bother! <br /><br />Gworm - unbelievably, neither Thailand nor Mainland China are represented in this list. This is criminal as both countries serve some of the best grub on the planet. <br /><br />You also raise a v.good point that the voting panel repeatedly revisit the same old places - Noma, Fat Duck, Joel Robuchon blah blah blah...Mr Noodleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13327242172810414292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-78351539618953243022011-04-26T08:40:24.895+01:002011-04-26T08:40:24.895+01:00How anyone can attempt to order the world's re...How anyone can attempt to order the world's restaurants in terms of 'best' and then limit them to 100 is beyond me. No mention of BK, or Shanghai? Zuma ranking above all those Japanese restaurants actually in Japan? Pfffff. <br /><br />It's become a recursive, reductive process where the same old places, or new places and new takes on the same old thing seem to get in. If you are on the list last year, then the voting panel have to go to you (same goes if you were on the list the year before)... and there is only so many restaurants that people can visit in a year. <br /><br />Meh. It's a marketing exercise for San Pellegino and something that sells Restaurant.The Grubwormhttp://www.thegrubworm.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-30992044008286235452011-04-25T21:51:59.463+01:002011-04-25T21:51:59.463+01:00These awards are for industry people to pat themse...These awards are for industry people to pat themselves on the back and nothing else, a bit like the oscars really. <br />I'd love to have read your first draft, but you have hit the nail on the head with this.Mzunguhttp://www.ilivetoeatandeattolive.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-88025469069127304582011-04-25T17:00:08.114+01:002011-04-25T17:00:08.114+01:00HK Epicurus / Pig Pig - thanks! I'm still not ...HK Epicurus / Pig Pig - thanks! I'm still not sure how Hakkasan garnered so many votes! <br /><br />Kavey - thanks! I know what you mean about Michelin, but at least they feature local restaurants with local chefs in their Asian guides.<br /><br />Tom - I think you're spot on that the list leans towards the 'progressive' and whilst I can understand that, what really irks me (and you) is how some fashionista hang-outs like Zuma crept into the Top 100. <br /><br />Mama Lan - thanks! BTW your supper club looks v.interesting.<br /><br />Gastronut - having reread the rules (see below), my anger is rightly aimed at the voting panel. If my understanding is correct, any restaurant in the world can feature on this list. Perhaps, if some of the voting panel went to more interesting places then we would have a more interesting list. <br /><br /><i>This method means that restaurants cannot apply to be on the list, and cannot be nominated, and no external influences (from Restaurant magazine or our sponsors) can influence the list. It also means that every restaurant in the world is eligible, unless the restaurant is closed at the time of going to print in mid April, or we receive notice that it will be closing in the near future after the results are published.</i><br /><br />GChick - another good point, Australia is under-represented. On London and HK, I'm not sure if they are under or over-represented but what I will say is that both cities are represented by the 'wrong' restaurants.Mr Noodleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13327242172810414292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-83831669450321073702011-04-25T16:31:35.122+01:002011-04-25T16:31:35.122+01:00Great post Mr Noodles I think the issue with the 5...Great post Mr Noodles I think the issue with the 50 best is that London in particular is very over represented as the awards are based in London and places such as Hong Kong (and also I note my home country of Australia) are very under represented because only a small number of the voting panel are eating in those countries each year.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15550630880349913974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-61034539279628832222011-04-25T16:24:39.060+01:002011-04-25T16:24:39.060+01:00I don't disagree with you Mr Noodles, there sh...I don't disagree with you Mr Noodles, there should definitely be a much greater representation of Asian cuisine (from Asian countries!) - and cuisine from other parts of the globe - in the Top 50 list.<br /><br />However, the only thing I'll say is that I think you're directing your anger in the wrong direction. Just like Michelin, the Top 50 list works on the basis of restaurants putting themselves forward. I know that the team behind the awards have tried really hard ever since their inception to get more Asian countries/restaurants involved, and they're just not doing it in any number at present - which is reflected in the list that we see.<br /><br />So, yes please let's have greater variety in the list, but let's appeal to the restaurants rather than the list-makers to get that happening.Gastronutnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-27072761682412947442011-04-25T14:39:17.937+01:002011-04-25T14:39:17.937+01:00Very well said and very funny Mr Noodles! Exactly...Very well said and very funny Mr Noodles! Exactly how I feel!Mama Lanhttp://www.mamalan.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-92007805705680586742011-04-25T13:18:25.729+01:002011-04-25T13:18:25.729+01:00Well I went to Nahm in BK earlier this week and wa...Well I went to Nahm in BK earlier this week and was the worst meal I have had in BK so far. And it was fairly brilliant. <br /><br />So you have a city full of insane food and it doesn't get a mention but ZUMA?!?!!!! does. Ridiculous. <br /><br />Ps on a more serious note it seems this list is trying to do "progressive" or on trend dining and it is pretty fair to say most restaurants in HK are off tren and more concerned with serving traditional (often brilliant) food. <br /><br />The problem is with the scope and ambition of the list itself. By all means try to list such things but ZUMA?!!!! freaking ZUMA? At Robuchon HK? And Bo Innovation (derivative hell hole)<br /><br />Awful.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09523972158924249530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-67161334468736495452011-04-25T13:03:27.565+01:002011-04-25T13:03:27.565+01:00hahaha Hakkasan, well said.hahaha Hakkasan, well said.pigpigscornerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13049039101703360576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-30784359746454029722011-04-25T11:59:45.291+01:002011-04-25T11:59:45.291+01:00Very well said indeed.
But I don't set much s...Very well said indeed.<br /><br />But I don't set much store by Michelin either.Kaveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16662875905365870280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-55920453566242010522011-04-25T11:12:59.707+01:002011-04-25T11:12:59.707+01:00What you wrote made so much sense indeed! Without...What you wrote made so much sense indeed! Without having tried the original NAHM I can't comment, but I've tried restaurants where chefs trained with David Thompson. They're just like ZUMA - not authentic, but altered to be what they think is a beefed up version of Japanese/Thai food. As for Amber, yes it is probably one of the best restaurants in HK (in terms of culinary sophistication and consistency). But then again, having Hakkasan being the top Chinese restaurant in the world is a bit of a joke!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15951478222064972637noreply@blogger.com