According to Food & Wine’s latest Global Tastemakers list, contemporary cuisine is no longer just a matter of impeccable technique, but of identity and storytelling. From the peaks of the Himalayas to the Amazon jungle, top chefs are rewriting the rules of hospitality by using history and biodiversity as their main ingredients. In this landscape of excellence, Italy remains a leading player thanks to a name that has become synonymous with Roman cuisine.
The Heart of Rome: Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina
Roscioli is not just a restaurant; it is an institution founded in the 1970s as a bakery in the historic center and transformed into one of the most sought-after gastronomic destinations. According to the experts at Food & Wine (who rank it eighth), dining at this historic bakery means immersing yourself in a treasure trove of flavors, surrounded by shelves brimming with fine preserves, extra-virgin olive oils, and a wine cellar boasting nearly 3,000 labels.
Roscioli’s strength lies in its obsessive pursuit of the finest ingredients. The guanciale comes from the Marche region, the tomatoes from Campania, and even the onions (the sweet Cannara variety) are selected with meticulous care. The signature dish: Chef Gabriele Giura keeps the flavors pure and straightforward. An example? Al dente spaghetti with butter, anchovies, and crumbled toasted rye bread.
The other stars of the global Top 10
Around the world, fusion and sustainability are being explored.
- Ikoyi ( London) is the winner: a spice-driven cuisine that blends seasonal British ingredients with the flavors of West Africa (such as ogbono seeds and alligator pepper).
- Maido ( Lima), the temple of Nikkei cuisine, where chef Mitsuharu Tsumura combines Japanese techniques with Peruvian biodiversity (Amazonian fish and Andean tubers).
- CieL Dining ( Ho Chi Minh City): a villa where Vietnamese cuisine meets French finesse, awarded a Michelin star just one year after opening.
- Arami ( La Paz): a project led entirely by women that celebrates the Bolivian Amazon, bringing ancestral ingredients like caiman and piranha to the table.
- Potong (Bangkok): located in an old Chinese pharmacy, it offers a 20-course journey through Sino-Thai culture.
- Naar (Darwa, India): a hidden gem with just 16 seats nestled in the mountains, where high-altitude grains and yak cheeses are prepared in harmony with the six Himalayan seasons.
- Botánico (Mexico City): a modern bistro housed in an Art Deco villa, famous for its raw dishes and breathtaking cactus garden.
- Lunch Lady ( Vancouver): the legacy of Saigon’s legendary “Lunch Lady” lives on in Canada, blending Vietnamese classics with local Pacific Northwest ingredients.
- Saint Peter (Sydney): a revolutionary approach to “zero-waste” seafood, where every part (including bones and offal) is transformed into haute cuisine.
These restaurants were selected by over 400 global experts not only for the quality of their food, but for their ability to reflect the movement of ideas and influences across borders.
