El Celler de Can Roca will start its global tour as the world's best restaurant
The Roca brothers, ambassadors of the BBVA brand, accepted the accolade at The World's 50 Best Restaurants awards held last night in London. Joan, Josep and Jordi will be in Buenos Aires with BBVA on August 1 to launch their second gastronomic tour, which will see them travel through Argentina, the United States and Turkey over the summer. The Turkish capital of Istanbul will also provide the ideal backdrop for filming of The Turkish Way, the second part of their 'Cooking Up a Tribute' documentary.
After the awards ceremony, Joan Roca said:
"It was a magical moment experiencing the same feelings as two years ago. This recognition makes us very happy, but it is above all down to our team, which is unquestionably the best in the world, and all those who have supported us all this time. We will endeavor to carry the title responsibly".
Following their successful 2014 world tour, unprecedented in the culinary world, El Celler de Can Roca reclaimed its gastronomical crown, after it came 1st in 2013 but lost out to Danish restaurant Noma in 2014. Innovation, perseverance and passion are the hallmarks of El Celler de Can Roca that have driven it back to the top spot in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
The annual event, organized by the British publication Restaurant Magazine, is considered the Oscars of the culinary world. The list is compiled based on the opinions of the chefs, reporters and food critics from all over the world. Each region has a dedicated panel of 36 experts, headed by a chairperson.
El Celler de Can Roca has consistently excelled in its creativity, which is why its return to the top spot came as no surprise among the culinary elite, although rumors prior to the ceremony suggested the accolade would go elsewhere.
Success outside of the kitchen too: 'Cooking Up a Tribute'
The Roca brothers had a string of successes last year, and not just in the kitchen. At the International Berlin Film Festival they premiered 'Cooking Up a Tribute', a documentary about their culinary tour around America. This year they will be filmed again as they travel and cook in Turkey. The film will again be directed by Luis González and produced by BBVA Contenidos. Over the coming weeks the Roca brothers will decide on the local ingredients that will feature in the dishes of the Turkish menu they will be serving in Istanbul, creations that they are already working on at the restaurant in Girona and their own Roca-Lab.
2015 BBVA-El Celler de Can Roca Tour
Over five weeks Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca, accompanied by around 40 chefs and waiters from their Girona-based team, will serve more than 2,500 BBVA customers and guests in Buenos Aires, Miami, Birmingham, Houston and Istanbul. They will create a special and exclusive menu for each country, inspired by the local culture and cuisine.
The three Roca brothers have decided to spend the first half of the year traveling thousands of kilometers around Turkey, USA and Argentina to experience the local cuisine first-hand, drawing on their insight into the food they encounter in these three countries to create unique dishes.
During this second edition of the tour a total of 100,000 dishes will be served in 6 countries, while over 2014 and 2015 combined the brothers will have travelled 120,000 km, equivalent to circumnavigating the world 3 times. What's more, this year they will make the leap from America to Europe and Asia, following the inclusion of Turkey.