Which country is the centre of Gastronomy NOW? And why?
Which country is the centre of Gastronomy NOW? And why?

Poll: Which country is the centre of Gastronomy NOW? And why?

Total Members Polled: 40

UK: 48%
USA: 8%
France: 10%
Italy: 10%
Spain : 8%
Australia: 5%
SE Asia: 2%
Africa: 0%
Other: 10%
Author
Discussion

Melman Giraffe

Original Poster:

6,794 posts

246 months

Friday 11th May 2012
quotequote all
The centre of Gastronomy - being where is the most exciting place at the moment/ up and coming chefs /restaurants etc

Melman Giraffe

Original Poster:

6,794 posts

246 months

Friday 11th May 2012
quotequote all
For me its Spain - Very exciting times!!

Zaxxon

4,057 posts

188 months

Friday 11th May 2012
quotequote all
I would say Austrailia.
It fuses Italian with Asian and more traditional food to good effect.
Also the choice of food available is pretty impressive.

Melman Giraffe

Original Poster:

6,794 posts

246 months

Friday 11th May 2012
quotequote all
Zaxxon said:
I would say Austrailia.
It fuses Italian with Asian and more traditional food to good effect.
Also the choice of food available is pretty impressive.
Austrailia added to poll along with others

Noger

7,117 posts

277 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
Right now if would be Scandinavia. Spain is very much last decade. Still great, but not the bleeding edge it once was.

Tokyo has the most Michelin stars I think. But the whole Asian fusion thing isn't very "now".







Edited by Noger on Saturday 12th May 11:43

lauda

4,393 posts

235 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
I voted for the UK because you can get fantastic quality, innovative food from around the world here now. France does French food very well but try finding a great Indian restaurant in Paris. Same goes for Italy where they focus very heavily on their own food culture.

Britain has such a diverse food culture and we are increasingly delivering better quality, service and value for money.

BlackVanDyke

9,932 posts

239 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
The best food I've ever had, was in New Zealand. So 'other' for me. Astonishing cooking in a whole range of different places up and down the country. We can't have just been flukily lucky every time, can we?

Noger

7,117 posts

277 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
Ah, but the UK has Frankie and Benny's (I have just been, I may never recover) and thus any votes are null and void !

Good food isn't Gastronomy though ? Name one dish or "style" that New Zealand has exported to the world recently. Same with the UK. When do we innovate, rather than recycle in our usual mongrel way ? That said, I did see a Shepherds Pie takeaway in Singapore recently smile

The whole foraging thing is largely from the Nordic influence.

thehawk

9,335 posts

235 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
Definitely not the UK. On size alone the USA would easily have more up and coming chefs/exciting restaurants. Some great places in LA, New York, Seattle, Dallas, San Francisco etc and many of the established chefs have their proteges (e.g. Wolfgang Puck)

SE Asia is very interesting, Singapore and Bangkok have some of the best food I've had anywhere, especially Bangkok. Both Western and Asian. Where Singapore just throws money at famous chefs and goes for fancy restaurants, Bangkok restaurants have one of the worlds greatest cuisines to draw from and some great creativity.

On the quality of food. I think you still need to search for good food in the UK (and France too). In Australia, NZ, the USA, Thailand, Singapore the food in independent cafes/restaurants is almost universally good.


Bonefish Blues

36,230 posts

251 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
Noger said:
Right now if would be Scandinavia. Spain is very much last decade. Still great, but not the bleeding edge it once was.

Edited by Noger on Saturday 12th May 11:43
Seems to be, yes.