... is it London the new "gastronomic capital of the world"?

Yesterday the Michelin stars finally arrived in UK and Ireland too and everyone was expecting new winners, old confirmations and maybe some fall, but none could think these countries could collect together 143 stars, more than anytime before.

This news created lots of talk about the fact that the english gastronomy finally reached the dignity and the respect needed.  Derek Bulmer, the editor of the guide, said to the Telegraph, food in British restaurants had improved immensely since he started. In 1974, the first year Michelin Guide published its guide in Britain under its current format, there were just 25 stars in total: " Our gastronomic reputation was, let's be generous, poor!"

He also added that though Britain may not have as many stars as France, Italy or even Germany, there were few cities in the world that attracted as many top-flight chefs as London. Truth is that in England at the moment you can find any kind of cuisine from all over the world: not just Indian and Asiatic, but I personally had the chance to try food from Ghana, Persia, even Mongolia, thing that is not so easy in other countries. 

Joël Robuchon, pluri- starred french chef, who has a restaurant in Soho,  just admitted few days ago that the restaurants in London are now more innovative than those of Paris.
The 65 year-old, also claimed that "London is very possibly the gastronomic capital of the world”. “Why? Because it’s only in London that you find every conceivable style of cooking. When it comes to what’s new in cooking, to innovative cuisine, it’s all happening in London."

But let's talk about this edition of the Michelin Guide, that this year celebrate in England also its 100th anniversary. Another good news in fact is the presence of new awarded female chefs: the first one is Hélène Darroze who received her second Michelin star, at The Connaught in London. Then Skye Gyngell, with her first star for the Petersham Nurseries Cafe in Richmond, and finally Clare Smyth, who runs the kitchen at Gordon Ramsay's  restaurant and was confirmed as one of just four chefs in the country to have three stars.

 
Lots were the restaurants awarded yesterday and I'm especially happy to notice also some good italian ones maintaining their star: Casa Mia in Bristol, Zafferano, Semplice and of course Locanda Locatelli here in London! Between the italian restaurants awarded a Bib Gormand there are Trullo e Zucca. I will need to try them soon!

So congratulations to  the women and to all the winners of this 2011 Michelin stars edition.