World's 50 Best Restaurants announced in London last night

First published by UK based Restaurant magazine in 2002 and now in its eighth year, The S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants is recognised around the world as the most credible indicator of the best places to eat on Earth. It stimulates fervent debate and sometimes controversy, but the excitement it generates amongst those who aspire to make the list, and the massive interest it brings to the restaurant industry in general, have seen it grow into an eagerly anticipated, internationally influential event.

At last nights awards Ferran Adria from El Bulli held onto the no 1 spot and Heston Blumenthal is still number 2. Noma in Denmark (Chef Rene Redzepi) is at number 3 and Redzepi also takes out the Chef's Choice Award. Congratulations to the Australian establishments who made it into the top 100 with Tetsuya's at number 17, Quay at number 46 and finally Pier at number 94.

PJ uncorks the oldest Champagne in the world

Last month 12 of the world’s top wine and champagne experts flew from all corners of the globe to the boutique Champagne House Perrier-Jouët for the chance to taste 20 historic vintages from the House’s own cellars, including the oldest champagne in the world: Perrier-Jouët Vintage 1825. According to world renowned expert and Head of the International Wine Department at Sotheby's Serena Sutcliffe MW, who co-hosted this special tasting with Perrier-Jouet Chef de Cave Herve Deschamps, each sip would have been worth hundreds of Euros at auction: “It is virtually impossible to assign a value to the 1825 vintage – we’ve never seen anything like it on the market! This was, quite simply, the opportunity of a lifetime tasting such exceptional, historic vintages.” The tasting also included the renowned “PJ 1874” – heralded as the most expensive champagne in the world when it was sold at a world famous auction in 1885(also see Krug 1928 post). The private event was organised to mark the future release of the House’s inaugural vintage of the 21st Century, Perrier-Jouët Millesime 2002.

Hip Hollywood Femme Fatale to endorse world's largest selling Champagne

Last week in London at a Moet et Chandon party which The New York Times dubbed 'its boozy tribute to cinema' the world's most successful Champagne house(part of the LVMH group which also owns Dom Perignon, Ruinart, Veuve Clicquot and Krug) announced that international film star Scarlett Johannson would now be Moet & Chandon's "Hollywood Face". Just last year Moet was fined 30,000 euros for its provocative "La nuit est Rose" campaign which was condemned for creating an association between drinking pink Champagne and leading a wonderful life. I wonder what the French goverment will make of Moet recruiting a well know female Hollywood star to push sales of the brand... Considered an obvious match just like Kiera Knightley and Chanel, a Moet spokesperson described Scarlett Johansson as a 'true icon of celebration', who was 'refreshingly spontaneous', 'generous' and 'glamorous', as well as 'living life to the full, both on screen and off'. Lucky girl! Fancy creating your own sensational Sparkling Silver Screen experience right here in Australia? Find out how at http://www.wineworksinternational.com/