Denmark smarts from latest Michelin guide's ratings

(AFP PHOTO / Slim ALLAGUI)

What had been feted as the culinary 'It' destination in Europe for the last few years seems to be losing a bit of its luster.

Denmark, home to the "world's best restaurant" and the "world's best chef" as deemed by some of the most prestigious international competitions, slid a few spots in the latest edition of Michelin's Main Cities of Europe 2011 guide, released Wednesday.

After garnering its second Michelin star in 2007, reviewers and pundits alike had been speculating out loud that this would finally be the year when Noma would be awarded its third and final star. The Copenhagen restaurant had been named the best in the world by S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards in 2010. The Scandinavian-inspired restaurant stole the top title from culinary heavyweight El Bulli in Spain.

But the 30th edition of the guide failed to nudge chef René Redzepi over to the ranks of three-starred chefs, leaving the food world to gossip anew.

Another disappointment for Copenhagen was chef Rasmus Kofoed's failure to secure his first star for the restaurant Geranium. Though it was identified as a Rising Star - which means it has the potential for a star - it fell short in this year's guide. Kofoed was crowned the world's best chef at the prestigious Bocuse d'Or competition in Lyon, France earlier this year, a bi-annual cooking contest that attracts the culinary elite who vie for the gold statuette.

Michelin also took back the stars it awarded to Copenhagen restaurants Bo Bech at Paustian, and MR, both of which were given one star last year.

Other highlights from this year's Michelin's Main Cities of Europe 2011 guide:

- Features 1,557 hotels, of which 110 are new entries

- Lists 1,771 new restaurants, of which 199 are new

- 239 restaurants, 46 of which are new, are deemed Bib Gourmands which indicates good value for money

- 15 restaurants in Europe were awarded three stars, all of which are the usual suspects, no new announcements

- 58 restaurants have two stars, six of which are new

- 284 restaurants have one star, 39 of which are new

- 23 pubs and 34 tapas bars were also singled out

- France added six new, one-star restaurants, for a total of 61, the highest of any European country

- Spain followed closely behind, with the addition of four new one-star restaurants, for a total of 31

- Hungary was awarded its second, one-star restaurant with Onyx.

The Michelin guide Main Cities of Europe 2011 is on sale now in the UK and retails for £14.99. It will be released in the rest of Europe April 4 for €22.90.

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