The 2011 World's 50 Best Restaurants are... Restaurant magazine and S. Pellegrino's annual "World's 50 Best Restaurants" list was released on Monday at an awards ceremony in London's Guildhall..
23) Schloss Schauenstein (Fürstenau, Switzerland)
47) Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville (Crissier, Switzerland)
At the Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville in Crissier, chef proposes two menus at a prices of over CHF 300 per person, so it had better be good! But do I really need to taste a mixture of violet and green asparagus? Will my life be uplifted? Does the poor peasant growing the stuff get any of the CHF 300,-- ?
Do they mention of which year the Chateau Yquem served with it?
Schauenstein booked (for the second time) for October - this time with a hotel room and the chance to run up a bar bill of which an African dictator would be proud.
I would assume that he gets fair market value for his produce. Where's the real value being added in this situation? In the growing of the asparagus or the preparation of the dish? If he's growing top quality produce, he will get a top price for his goods.
Top end places do not usually make much money on the food. Some of the menu items take days to prepare and use costly ingredients. Kitchens are staffed by a lot of people.
Restaurants like this make most of their money from the wine.
Does anyone every need ANY luxury item? In fact if you take that argument to its inevitable conclusion we'd still be living in caves. We don't need anymore than the basics to sustain life and to ensure our genetics a passed on. Everything else is window dressing.
I don't need 600 rampaging Italian horses, clothed in exquistely designed metal work - but I'd be (at times) happier with it.
I don't need a bag made of the finest calf leather, with counter double stitching and matching purse - but my wife (at times) would be happier with it.
I don't need a 300chf 7 course meal, with elegant combinations of flavours, textures and surprises. But (at times) we're happier with it.
One man's luxury is anothers essential and anothers extravagence. It is not our place to make judgement - just to be happy with our own choiices.
I take issue with the Italian horses argument - of course you need it, we all do.
I've eaten there, a few years ago. It was okay, but completely OTT for my tastes. What does the Restaurant Magazine league table or the Michelin system tell you anyway? They don't tell you these are two of the best restaurants in the world. They don't even mean they serve the best food in Switzerland.
I mean - I'm sure a lot of man hours go into the meticulous preparation of the dishes but how much value that adds to the diner is all subjective. Also, personally speaking, I don't like to pay for an army of under-utilized serving staff hanging around watching me eat. I like to see them rushing around like crazy, that way I know I'm paying for the food and not subsidizing too many staff.
I'm very skeptical of awards like this where a panel of industry insiders vote themselves. It's just an excuse to create a hype and perpetuate the myth of celebrity chefs so the industry can jack up it's prices.
We went to Steinreich (22) when we were in Vienna. Amazing food and atmosphere. Best spot in the city as well
Well... it's not just the purple asparagus... the award I suppose it taking the whole experience into consideration. I once dined at a restaurant in Rome which was on this list and while the food was gorgeous, it was nerving having the wait staff more or less surround the table to catch dropped napkins or cuttlery, jump in to refresh your drink before you'd taken the last gulp, etc. I like fine food but I also like to wipe a finger onto my plate (bad manners, I know) -which I just can't imagine doing here and for 300fr a menu you'd think I'd have paid enough to for the right to put my finger onto anyone's plate !
Having said that, I think I rather fancy trying some purple asparagus. Anyone up for a swanky meal out?
I think you missed the main issue here. Do they have soup spoons??
42)
Astrid y Gastón (Lima, Perú)!!!!!!!!!!!!
The place is awesome!