The 50 best chefs in the world. No, really (Image: The S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants 2011)

With dramatic action-movie music and a little smug British humour, the much-anticipated S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants were announced at an awards ceremony at the Guildhall in London, U.K. last night. Just like last year, no Canadian restaurants made the Top 50, but unlike last year, Canada was also a no-show in the second-tier 51-100 list (Cambridge’s Langdon Hall and Calgary’s Rouge made it onto 2010’s list at 77 and 60, respectively, but didn’t place this year.)

Rene Redzepi’s Noma from Copenhagen took first place again this time around. Redzepi and the team accepted the prize with plenty of man-love (a theme in this year’s ceremony) and Viking hats, followed by an emotional speech from the Danish chef.

With more room at the top after the withdrawal of Ferran Adria’s El Bulli from the list (it’s closing in 2012), Spanish restaurants El Celler de Can Roca and Mugaritz secured the second and third spot. Other awards included: Best Female Chef to Anne Sophie Pic of France’s Maison Pic; the One To Watch award to Stockholm’s Frantzén/Lindeberg; and the Lifetime Achievement award to Juan Mari Arzak, the pioneer of new Basque cuisine who was Spain’s first chef to win three Michelin stars. The competition is organized by Restaurant magazine, and voted on by 800 restaurant industry insiders.

Despite Canada’s poor showing, Toronto diners can still get excited that American David Chang, who will be opening a pair of restaurants in Toronto next year, snagged the 40th spot for his Momofuku Ssäm Bar and 65th for his tiny Momofuku Ko.

The entire Top 50 List:

1. Noma (Denmark)
2. El Celler de Can Roca (Spain)
3. Mugaritz (Spain)
4. Osteria Francescana (Italy) – Chef’s Choice
5. The Fat Duck (U.K.)
6. Alinea (U.S.) – Best restaurant in North America
7. D.O.M. (Brazil) – Best restaurant in South America
8. Arzak (Spain)
9. Le Chateaubriand (France)
10. Per Se (U.S.)
11. Daniel (U.S.)
12. Les Creations de Narisawa (Japan) – Best restaurant in Asia
13. L’Astrance (France)
14. Atelier de Joel Robuchon (France)
15. Hof van Cleve (Belgium)
16. Pierre Gagnaire (France)
17. Oud Sluis (Netherlands)
18. Le Bernadin (U.S.)
19. L’Arpege (France)
20. Nihonryori Ryugin (Japan)
21. Vendome (Germany)
22. Steirereck (Austria)
23. Schloss Schauenstein (Switzerland)
24. Eleven Madison Park (U.S.)
25. Aqua (Germany)
26. Quay (Australia) – Best restaurant in Australasia
27. Iggys (Singapore)
28. Combal Zero (Italy)
29. Martin Berasategui (Spain)
30. Bras (France)
31. Biko (Mexico)
32. Le Calandre (Italy)
33. Ristorante Cracco (Italy)
34. The Ledbury (U.K.) – Highest new entry
35. Chez Dominique (Finland)
36. Quartier Francis (South Africa) – Best restaurant in Africa + Middle East
37. Amber (Hong Kong)
38. Dal Pescatore (Italy)
39. Il Canto (Italy)
40. Momofuku Ssam Bar (U.S.)
41. St. John (U.K.)
42. Astrid Y Gaston (Peru)
43. Hibiscus (U.K.)
44. Maison Trois Gros (France)
45. Alain Ducasse, Plaza Athenee (France)
46. De Librije (Netherlands)
47. Restaurant Hotel de Vie (Switzerland)
48. Varvary (Russia)
49. Pujol (Mexico)
50. Asador Extebarri (Spain)

Happy International Bacon Day to all (Image by Mandy Jouan)

• Why wait until September 5 when you can start International Bacon Day shopping now? Bacon-flavoured lip gloss and bacon-scented soap make excellent stocking stuffers, and bacon cupcakes from Yummy Stuff (topped with bacon ice cream, of course) make the perfect holiday dessert. The Globe’s Sarah Boesveld highlights these and other perks of the bacon craze, just in time for the pig day. [Globe and Mail]

• Restaurant traffic in the U.S., France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain and the U.K. fell significantly in the first quarter. Canada was the only country in the NPD Group study to see a rise in the number of meals consumed. It was only a 0.1 per cent rise, and the fastest growing sector is the “evening snack.” Good show, Taco Bell; good luck, everyone else. [NDP Group]

• The true diet of the food critic is questions, writes Frank Bruni in his last Times column—and for his final meal, he’s answered a few. Which sushi restaurant does he prefer? The $400-a-plate Masa. Which appetizers should we avoid? The ones that appear on every menu. Where can a hungry New Yorker find the best value? The prix fixe menus of the priciest rooms should do the trick. Thanks, Frank. Now let’s hope his successor, Sam Sifton, will tell us something we don’t already know. [New York Times]

• Irate parents in the U.S. are fighting the “predatory practices” of ice cream truck vendors. Children’s health advocates have been lobbying New York principals to ban the ice cream man from school grounds; a ward in Chicago has already nixed mobile soft-serve. And who is leading the charge against the goop and slush that are making kids fat? Vicki Sell, the owner of a fish and chips shop. [Gothamist]

• Following the lead of Wolfgang Puck, Masayoshi Takayama and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Michelin three-star chef Pierre Gagnaire is gambling on Sin City’s new $8.5-billion CityCenter. His new restaurant Twist will be located at the Mandarin Oriental, and it will feature the same gastro-scientific delights that made the Parisian famous. His Saint-Jacques “farady” is an emulsion of scallops, orange oil, smoked tea and gelatin. Sounds more daring (and palatable) than Cirque du Soleil’s new show. [L.A. Times]