[Christabel]

By the way ... Talking about statistics and international prizes (nothing to do with REAL food, but as a curiosity...)

A spanish cook, Ferran Adriá, has been awarded as the best one in the world for the last three years.

The best restaurants in the world:

1. The Fat Duck, Bray, Berkshire, Britain
2. El Bulli, Montjoi, Spain
3. French Laundry, California
4. Tetsuya’s, Sydney, Australia
5. Gordon Ramsay, London, Britain
6. Pierre Gagnaire, Paris, France
7. Per Se, New York, New York
8. Tom Aikens, London, Britain
9. Jean Georges, New York, New York
10. St John, London, Britain
11. Michel Bras, Laguiole, France
12. Louis XV, Monaco
13. Chez Panisse, California
14. Charlie Trotter, Chicago, Illinois
15. Gramercy Tavern, New York, New York
16. Guy Savoy, Paris, France
17. Alain Ducasse, Paris, France
18. Sketch (Gallery), London, Britain
19. The Waterside Inn, Bray, Britain
20. Nobu, London, Britain
21. Arzak, San Sebastian, Spain
22. El Raco de can Fabes, Spain
23. Checcino dal 1887, Rome, Italy
24. Le Meurice, Paris, France
25. L’Hotel de Ville, Crissier, Switzerland
26. Arpege, Paris, France
27. The Connaught, London, Britain
28. Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Oxford, Britain
29. Le Cinq, Paris, France
30. Hakkasan, London, Britain
31. Cal Pep, Barcelona, Spain

And they say the countries always fighting one-another to get that international prestige are:
France- USA? - Italy and Spain
which is basically mediterranean cooking