For the first time in three years, there’s a new restaurant on top of the world.

El Celler de Can Roca, in Girona, Spain, took top honors at the annual “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” awards, which were announced Monday evening at Guildhall in London.

El Celler de Can Roca supplanted Noma, the Denmark restaurant that has ruled the top spot since 2010, which settled for second place. El Celler was in second place last year.

2013 is a great year for the World’s 50 Best Restaurants: this year, in fact, started the first edition of the dedicated award in Asia at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.

The top 50 list is a reflection of the finest dining establishments in the world and is selected by The Diners Club Worlds 50 Best Restaurants Academy. The voting academy is comprised of more than 900 international leaders in the restaurant industry, each selected for their expert opinion of the international restaurant scene.

A chairperson from each region is appointed for their knowledge in the fine dining space and restaurant world. These chairs each selected a voting panel, who cast a total of 6,552 votes.

Diners Club International is the proud sponsor of The Diners Club International World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy and “The Official Financial Services Sponsor” for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.

El Celler de Can Roca in Spain is the work of the three Roca brothers. Joan is the head chef, his little brother Joseph is the sommelier, and the youngest of the brothers, Jordi is the pastry chef.

The Celler’s first ever dish, created back in 1986, was hake with rosemary and garlic vinaigrette. He spent the next 25 years developing his own style of Catalan cuisine and eventually help develop the Roner – a piece of Sous Vide equipment for controlling the exact temperature of water and something now used throughout the world’s best kitchens.

I have never been to their restaurant but will definitely visit some day. One of the dishes which I want to try is their grilled sole (picture above) with olive oil and Mediterranean flavors: fennel, bergamot, orange, pine nuts and green olives.

The Rocas are coming out with a brand spanking new cookbook this year, and, oh yes, congratulations on being the NUMBER ONE. Rock on, you Rocas!

Photo Credit: OnEdition

World’s 50 Best Restaurants

1. El Celler De Can Roca, Spain
2. Noma, Denmark
3. Osteria Francescana, Italy
4. Mugaritz, Spain
5. Eleven Madison Park, USA
6. D.O.M., Brazil
7. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, England
8. Arzak, Spain
9. Steirereck, Austria
10. Vendome, Germany
11. Per Se, USA
12. Frantzen/Lindeberg, Sweden
13. The Ledbury, England
14. Astrid Gaston, Peru
15. Alinea, USA
16. L’arpege, France
17. Pujol, Mexico
18. Le Chateaubriand, France
19. Le Bernardin, USA
20. Narisawa, Japan
21. Attica, Australia
22. Nijonryori Ryugin, Japan
23. L’astrance, France
24. L’atelier Saint- Germain De Joel Robuchon, France
25. Hof Van Cleve, Belgium
26. Quique Dacosta, Spain
27. Le Calandre, Italy
28. Mirazur, France
29. Daniel, USA
30. Aqua, Germany
31. Biko, Mexico
32. NAHM, Thailand
33. The Fat Duck, England
34. Faviken, Sweden
35. Oud Sluis, Netherlands
36. Amber, China
37. Vila Joya, Portugal
38. Restaurant Andre, Singapore
39. 81/2 Otto E Mezzo Bombana, China
40. Combal. Zero, Italy
41. Piazza Duomo, Italy
42. Schloss Schauenstein, Switzerland
43. Mr & Mrs Bund, China
44. Asador Etxebarri, Spain
45. Gerandium, Denmark
46. Mani, Brazil
47. The French Laundry, USA
48. Quay, Australia
49. Septime, France
50. Central, Peru

Iggy’s at The Hilton clocked in at number 65, Waku Ghin at Marina Bay Sands is in 68th place and Les Amis at Shaw Centre is 81 on the 50 to 100 list.

Lifetime achievement was assigned to the French chef Alain Ducasse, sponsored by Diners Club International. He began his culinary at the young age of 33. Back then, he was awarded three Michelin stars for his 33-month old Le Louis XV at the Hôtel de Paris in Monaco. And now, Alain Ducasse is one of the world’s most successful, influential and respected chefs and restaurateurs.

The Italian Nadia Santini, chef of the “Dal Pescatore” is the winner of the Veuve Cliquot World’s Best Female Chef Award.

World’s 50 Best also announced they’ll be doing Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants in September in Lima.