Fat Duck conquers the world

As if British chef Heston Blumenthal's mantelpiece was not already groaning from the weight of awards. His restaurant The Fat Duck has now been named the best restaurant in the world.

The eatery of the self-taught chef has topped a definitive list of the world's 50 best restaurants.

The Berkshire restaurant, selected by a panel of more than 500 international chefs, critics and restaurateurs, is noted for its bacon-and-egg icecream and carpaccio of cauliflower with chocolate jelly.

"The food at the Fat Duck is not just sublime, it is fun, funny and exciting," says Restaurant magazine.

The 38-year-old chef says, "Whatever our ultimate goal might be, we are not there yet and it feels a bit early. Though the restaurant opened 10 years ago, we still feel very young and we have much more energy to give."

The much-trumpeted awards caused a stir when it was noted that 14 of the best restaurants were British, beating historically gastronomic nations such as France and Italy.

Blumenthal, who has been described as "possessed of an urge to indulge in gastronomic eccentricity", has already been awarded three Michelin stars, a rating of 19 out of 20 in the Gault Millau guide and numerous best-restaurant awards.

Last year's winner, Californian restaurant the French Laundry, was beaten into third place and the Chef's Choice, El Bulli (Montjoi, Spain) came second. Gordon Ramsay's eponymous Chelsea restaurant was fifth on the list while fellow British restaurants Nobu (20) and The Ivy (44) also featured. Also in the top 50 were the Fat Duck's neighbour, the Waterside Inn (19) and Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons (28) in Oxford.

"It may appear very London-centric, but with the US-based Gourmet magazine recently declaring London 'the best place to eat on the planet', I believe it's a fair reflection of the city's place in global dining," says Ella Johnston, editor of Restaurant, the British-based magazine that created the awards three years ago.

- INDEPENDENT