It’s such an honor to grab a spot on the official World’s Best Restaurant list. Since every city in the world has a special spot for really good cuisine, the competition is fierce. The awards were announced on June 19th in Bilbao, Spain, and those tuning in were eager to hear the results. Chefs were honored at the event as well, and that’s when people started noticing a disturbing trend. Not only were there a lack of women in the running, but Clare Smyth from Ireland won the “World’s Best Female Chef” award, proving that women can’t just be referred to as just “Chef” for some archaic reason.
The distinction is a little upsetting, and it’s something Smyth gets asked about a little too often. “I’m constantly being asked, ‘Why don’t we see more women being represented at the top level of the industry, and why is there a lack of diversity?’” Smyth said in her speech, according to GrubStreet. “The thing is, I don’t have the answers, or not all of them.”
Smyth noted that she’s also often asked what it’s like to be a “female chef,” and for that, she has a witty response — “I reply, ‘I’m not sure what you mean because I’ve never been a male chef.’”
Clare Smyth collected on stage her @elitVodka World’s Best Female Chef 2018 Award - watch part of her speech. #Worlds50Best pic.twitter.com/61bBP7yuE9
— The World's 50 Best (@TheWorlds50Best) June 19, 2018
Here’s an interesting fact — Smyth runs Core, an informal fine dining spot which serves British cuisine. She’s also known for having a restaurant with three Michelin-stars in the U.K., which is incredibly impressive. But Core didn’t make it on the Top 100 list. So, even though she’s the “best female chef,” her eatery failed to rank. What does that really say about women in the industry?
Here’s another depressing stat. According to Eater, only five of the top 100 restaurants listed are run by female chefs — and that’s actually up from last year, when only three female-led restaurants made the list. Out of the five, only two of them lack a male who’s positioned at co-chef.
Women are, rightfully, frustrated at the lack of representation.
I was shocked when I saw they are still giving out a "best female chef award. Why is that even a category? Does it mean a woman can never win" best chef"?
— Margaret (@nursemegg) June 21, 2018
The 50 Best Restaurant list is about as relevant and balanced as someone making a list of the 50 Best Children
— Dave Strauss (@AllStrauss) June 20, 2018
The restaurant that took the top spot was Osteria Francescana, an Italian eatery run by Massimo Bottura. El Celler de Can Roca in Spain followed. Here’s the full list:
There are so many fantastic chefs out there, who just so happen to be female. Hopefully next year, the “Best Female Chef” category gets dropped and the talented women out there can prove to the men that they’re just as capable of landing that top spot.
