Love it or hate it, the “Best Female Chef” award, handed out bythose behind the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, is not going anywhere. The award was created as a response to the lack of women-led restaurants on the annual Best Restaurants list. But rather than diffusing tension, creating a separate space for “female chefs” has caused more upset, and many argue that the Best Female Chef award does not promote equality in the restaurant sphere.
To address criticisms surrounding the award, World’s 50 Best director Hélène Pietrini penned a July 9th blogpost. Firstly, Pietrini wanted to clarify that a majority of the team behind the World’s 50 Best list is made up of women, as are at least half of the 26 Academy Chairs who manage the voting panel.
Pietrini acknowledged that, of the 50 restaurants who made the list this year, only four were headed by women: Hiša Franko in Slovenia, Arzak in Spain, Cosme in the U.S., and Nahm in Thailand.
She further stated that, although she and the rest of the team considers the lack of gender equality a major issue, changing the voting system in place would alter the “authenticity and credibility of the list and the 50 Best brand would undoubtedly be diminished.”
“However,” Pietrini continued, “we can help foster an environment where expert female voices are heard and where female chefs are identified, valued, and invested in on an equal basis to their male counterparts.”
She stated that 50 Best will now be committed to keeping a “50-50 gender balance across its 1,040-strong worldwide Academy of voters.” The team will be on the hunt for more female experts to add to the voting panel as well as to the Academy Chair membership.
And what of the controversial “Best Female Chef” award?
Getting caught up on #Worlds50Best "Best Female Chef" award. Is there a Best Male Chef? Does that imply chefs are male by default? In 2016?!
— Kat Kinsman (@kittenwithawhip) April 27, 2016
“The World’s Best Female Chef is not an award that seeks to separate female cooking or define it as ‘other’, but provides an opportunity for successful women to be celebrated, as well as for them to address important issues including representation,” Pietrini wrote. “50 Best’s role is to amplify their achievements and their messages to an international audience.”
Most importantly, Pietrini added, this award is bringing attention to role models like this year’s winner, Clare Smyth, chef and owner of London’s Core restaurant, that future female chefs can look up to.
Ideally, Pietrini concluded, the restaurant sector will reach gender parity and the Best Female Chef award can be retired. Until then, let’s give these rad female restauranteurs the recognition they deserve.
