THE INTELLIGENCE
News, insight and analysis
ATOMIX NAMED NORTH AMERICA’S BEST RESTAURANT 2025
The inaugural celebration of North America’s 50 Best Restaurants saw the title go to New York City, as Korean restaurant Atomix was named top of the list. The good and the great of the North American gastronomic world gathered in Las Vegas to recognize the top culinary talent in the region. Atomix, the restaurant of Ellia and Junghyun ‘JP’ Park was celebrated for its 12-course tasting menu and elaborate storytelling rooted in Korean traditions. The Manhattan restaurant was followed by Montreal’s Mon Lapin, in second place, and Restaurant Pearl Morissette in Lincoln, which came third. Among the individual awards on the night, Normand Laprise from Montreal was honored with the Icon Award in recognition of his impact on gastronomy; Michael Cimarusti, chef of Providence in Los Angeles, received the Chef’s Choice Award; and Chutatip ‘Nok’ Suntaranon of Kalaya in Philadelphia was named North America’s Best Female Chef. “We are thrilled to unveil the inaugural list of North America’s 50 Best Restaurants, celebrating the extraordinary diversity, creativity and excellence that define the region’s dining scene,” said William Drew, director of content for North America’s 50 Best Restaurants. “From pioneering fine-dining institutions to bold new voices, this list reflects the rich culinary landscape of the US, Canada and the Caribbean.” The ranking included restaurants from 20 cities in the region, including two in the Caribbean, 11 in Canada and 37 in the United States.
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CHIPOTLE ANNOUNCES LANDING IN ASIA IN 2026 The first stores in Asia from Chipotle Mexican Grill will open in South Korea and Singapore in 2026. The chain has partnered with SPC Group, a leading South Korea-based food company to lead this expansion east. The brand has a significant following in Korea from fans who have eaten the food when visiting the US and many K-Pop artists are unofficial brand ambassadors, having developed a passion for the freshly made Mexican food. Chipotle currently has stores in Canada, the UK, France and Germany.
HESTON BLUMENTHAL LAUNCHES NEW MENU FOR GUESTS ON OBESITY DRUGS
In what may be a sign of things to come, the multi award-winning chef Heston Blumenthal has launched a special menu at The Fat Duck, for diners who are taking weight-loss drugs. Having been prescribed the drugs himself and experienced reduced appetite, he has devised a Mindful Experience menu, consisting of exactly the same dishes as the regular tasting menu, but in smaller servings. The restaurant says the scaled-back version of each dish gives guests the opportunity “to explore especially mindfully, slowly savoring every mouthful, taking the time to detect flavors, textures, aromas”. Blumenthal has acknowledged that the growing
uptake in these medications will have an industry- wide impact, but said in an interview with The Guardian that it would likely be better for diners’ overall health.
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