Find out what will happen at 50 Best, the biggest award in gastronomy, this Monday (18)

After a last-minute exchange, which caused the organization to abandon the plan to have Moscow as the venue for its 2022 gala (after the attacks on Ukraine), the 50 Best, the biggest award in gastronomy, takes place this Monday ( 18) in London, in a ceremony that begins at 8:30 pm local time (4:30 pm GMT).

Celebrating 20 years since the publication of its first list, which elected the mythical El Bulli as the best restaurant in the world for the first time, this year the ceremony gains more pomp — and seeks to renew its influence.

Starting with the presentation: Hollywood actor Stanley Tucci, known for roles in films such as “The Devil Wears Prada”, will be the night’s master of ceremonies.​

It’s the first time the gala has been hosted by a celebrity — Tucci became known for immersing himself in gastronomy with a series and book on Italian food last year.

The 50 Best also promises news, as every year the organization tries to launch new categories to renew itself. Among others, it should be presented as the most sustainable restaurant in the world.

As for the best restaurant, the bets are that Denmark will remain at the top of the podium — Geranium has a great chance of being voted the best restaurant in the world tonight.

With three Michelin stars and a perfectly executed cuisine based on Scandinavian products, the house is led by chef Rasmus Kofoed and had been in second place on last year’s list.

The Geranium tasting menu costs around R$2,300 reais (without alcoholic beverages). One of its peculiarities is the view of the official stadium of the Danish football team.

The Brazilians Maní, Lasai, Evvai and DOM were released last week as part of an expanded list that is made by the organization of the 50 Best, between positions 51-100. The closest Brazil has ever come to first place was in 2017, when Alex Atala’s DOM reached fourth place.

Celebrating 20 years since its first edition in 2001, the 50 Best reaches adulthood as the award that helped change the world’s gastronomy landscape, by allowing judges to vote for any restaurant they wanted.

Voters choose ten establishments in order of preference that they have visited around the world. The only requirement is that at least three of them are from outside the area/continent they are representing and that they confirm the dates they have been to the restaurants.

This last rule, by the way, was incorporated more recently, since the list came to be criticized by many for the possibility of bias and interest between voters and chefs and their restaurants.

Another newly adopted rule is that those who reach the top of the list are automatically transferred to the Best of The Best category, and therefore can no longer compete for first place.

Controversial, the award remains the most discussed in the sector, defended by many as the “Oscar of gastronomy” for its influence and reach among cooks and personalities, in addition to propagating a glamorized image of restaurants.