The World Restaurant Awards were created by IMG in partnership with Joe Warwick and Andrea Petrini to celebrate restaurants as culture, considered in the same way as film, art and music. That means relevant/progressive categories judged with robust integrity by an expert panel in an attempt to better reflect the true range and diversity of the international restaurant scene: from fine dining innovators to humble, accessible establishments; major culinary capitals to more remote destinations.
The launch edition took place in Paris, the birthplace of the restaurant in the western world, on February 18, 2019 and was attended by stars from around the world including Alex Atala, Alain Ducasse, Dan Barber, Hélène Darroze, Ana Roś, Clare Smyth and Hot Chip.
Cécile Rebbot, Director of The World Restaurant Awards, IMG, said: “We are proud to have given a global stage to a diverse spectrum of incredibly deserving restaurants, teams, experiences and initiatives. We set out to create a truly international awards with a fresh approach, recognising the full breadth and depth of the industry, but this is only the beginning in terms of the restaurant experiences around the world that we want to explore and discover.”
Cecile Rebbot
Director
Publicity, communications and event director specialising in the film and hospitality industries. Her expertise includes roles at 20th Century Fox, Alain Ducasse, Dorchester Collection, Bulgari Hotels and currently Taste Festivals UK.
Joe Warwick
Creative Director
Editor, writer, broadcaster and co-founder of ‘The World’s 50 Best Restaurants’. The third edition of his bestselling international restaurant guide ‘Where Chefs Eat’ has just been published.
Andrea Petrini
Chair of the Judging Panel
Editor, writer, broadcaster and creator of the groundbreaking gastronomic roadshow that is Gelinaz!, its rotating cast a mix of the world’s greatest chefs and the very latest culinary talent.
IMG
The World Restaurant Awards are created by IMG, a leading events, media, fashion and sports company, operating in more than 30 countries. The company owns, operates or commercially represents more than 800 events around the world, including the Taste platform and other flagship culinary properties such as Margaret River Gourmet Escape and The Big Feastival.
IMG is part of the Endeavor network. Named one of Fortune's 25 Most Important Private Companies, Endeavor is a world leading entertainment business with the unrivalled capability to create and distribute some of the world's most watched content.
Endeavor is comprised of a number of industry-leading companies including: WME, Frieze, UFC, Droga5, Miss Universe Organisation and The Wall Group, among many others.
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