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It’s been a busy year in the world of food with enough news to keep Fine Dining Lovers HQ buzzing from the 1st of January to the very end of the year. We’re happy to be opening up for yet another year of innovation, delicious food, engaging conversations and mind-blowing creations but before we open the blocks on 2019, we want to take a look back at some of the biggest bites of 2018.
Food and Restaurant Trends 2019
This year at Fine Dining Lovers we tackled a diverse range of topics. Among them were our predictions for the top food and restaurant trends for the upcoming year. From vegan-based protein and insects to miso and cannabis-infused foods, it looks like 2019 will be a very intriguing year.
Check out our predicted food trends for 2019.
Social Gastronomy
We followed the wave of social gastronomy as chefs stepped further and further away from the plate to use their skills, knowledge and influence to improve society.
José Andrés stepped into the world spotlight with his World Central Kitchen organization: a group that fed around 3 million meals to the people of Puerto Rico after Hurricanes smashed the area. He was nominated for a Nobel Peace prize and the idea of Cooking as a Cause is one of our top 2019 predictions.
Massimo Bottura continued to educate and open kitchens in the name of challenging food waste and feeding people who need it most.
Read more about the social power of gastronomy.
Interviews
We met some amazing chefs this year with stories from Russia with the twins, Ivan and Sergey Berezutskiys who run the hyper-creative restaurant, Twins Lab. We spoke with Mauro Uliassi just after he was awarded his third Michelin star, Garima Arora just after she became the first female Indian chef to get a Michelin star and Jock Zonfrillo just after he was awarded the Basque Culinary World Prize for 2018 for his work with indigenous populations in Australia. There was also a great interview with Clare Smyth, a chef who is taking London by storm with her Core restaurant.
Away from the world of chefs but firmly linked to food we also met with food designers, Instagram sensations and an architect who makes amazing pastries.
S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018
The S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 competition was all the rage this year. Chef Yasuhiro Fujio of Japan was crowned the winner back in May after facing off with 21 young chefs from around the world. The prestigious competition featured a jury of Seven Sages, accomplished international chefs including Virgilio Martinez, Dominique Crenn and Brett Graham.
Asia's 50 Best Restaurants
The Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2018 ceremony, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, was held in March where Gaggan Anand’s Gaggan in Bangkok took the winning crown for an incredible fourth year in a row. The 2018 edition was held in Macao for the first time.
Discover more about the event.
World's 50 Best Restaurants
Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy run by chef Massimo Bottura, was announced as the World’s Best Restaurant, for a second time, at this year's awards ceremony in Bilbao, Spain, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna.
Food on the Edge
Fine Dining Lovers once again partnered with the growing food festival, Food on The Edge, a two-day event that’s packed with dialogue and forward-thinking ideas, we were there to report live from the event but we’ve also been able to bring you exclusive access to the wonderful presentations given during the festival.
Read more about the symposium in Ireland.
Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants
Just last month the Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants ceremony, an event sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, crowned Maido restaurant in Lima, Peru - owned and run by chef Mitsuharu Tsumura - as the best restaurant in Latin America for the second year in a row. The 2018 edition was once again held in Bogotá.
Check out the list of winners here.
