Members of the star-studded judging panel gather in Paris to announce the launch of The World Restaurant Awards (PRNewsfoto/IMG and World Restaurant Awards)

Massimo and friends launch first televised restaurant awards

Founded by Phaidon author Joe Warwick, The World Restaurant Awards aims to mirror the glamour of the Oscars

Today, chefs occupy an exalted position within western culture, once reserved for pop stars, artists, authors and actors. However, the restaurant business hasn’t quite kept up with this glamorous rise.

 

Alex Atala at yesterday's launch
Alex Atala at yesterday's launch

The World Restaurant Awards looks set to change that. This new annual ceremony, which will take place in Paris on 18 February 2019, will be the world’s first televised restaurant awards, and, its organisers hope, will mirror the glamour and anticipation of similar events for comparable industries including film, music, art, design and fashion.

 

Joe Warwick, IMG's Justin Clarke and Andrea Petrini
Joe Warwick, IMG's Justin Clarke and Andrea Petrini

Phaidon author Joe Warwick has co-founded the new venture with the global events company IMG. Warwick was joined by fellow Phaidon authors Alex Atala, Massimo Bottura, Rodolfo Guzmán and Virgilio Martínez in Paris yesterday to celebrate this new partnership.

 

Massimo Bottura and Daniel Humm, at the launch yesterday
Massimo Bottura and Daniel Humm, at the launch yesterday

These chefs will form part of the 100-strong judging panel, alongside fellow Phaidon contributors, including René Redzepi, and Cook It Raw founder Andrea Petrini.

That all might sound pretty starry, but Warwick is adamant that this new awards ceremony will both be inclusive and accountable, recognising gastronomic brilliance regardless of gender or ethnicity; and highlight great, affordable places to eat.

"The World Restaurant Awards will be conducted with complete integrity, total transparency and a real sense of inclusivity,” Warwick said. “We want to make everyone think about the full gamut of the world's great restaurants - old and new, from luxury destinations to humble institutions - and what makes them so special."

 

Clare Smyth, Emma Bengtsson, Kylie Wong, May Chow, Dominique Crenn, Ana Ros, Elena Arzak, Rosio Sanchez among the chefs at the Paris launch yesterday
Clare Smyth, Emma Bengtsson, Kylie Wong, May Chow, Dominique Crenn, Ana Ros, Elena Arzak, Rosio Sanchez among the chefs at the Paris launch yesterday

For a foretaste of the kind of places likely to pick up prizes next February in Paris, order a copy of our new Where Chefs Eat book and app; Joe selected the chefs, many of whom feature on this new judging panel.