Redzepi bounces back after a rough year

For three years, René Redzepi‘s Noma topped the rankings of the world’s best restaurants. But 2013 was “an avalanche of disaster,” according to Redzepi. Sixty Noma diners contracted norovirus from tainted mussels, Noma lost its number one spot to Spain’s El Celler de Can Roca, and the restaurant’s investment structure was changed. But instead of being discouraged by these challenges, Redzepi took them as a wake-up call to change.

He told the Wall Street Journal, “I wouldn’t want to be without this motivation. I told my whole team I wouldn’t want to be without this tremendous and inspiring push. Sometimes you need a bit of anger towards the world.” In 2014, Redzepi began an ambitious program to reinvigorate Noma, open a second restaurant in Copenhagen, and open a pop-up Noma in Japan. He created 90 new recipes and is also helping his long-time pastry chef open a Mexican restaurant across town. 

The Wall Street Journal article provides an in-depth exploration of Redzepi’s tireless work to return Noma to the number one spot atop the San Pellegrino rankings. Upheaval appears to be a theme for 2014 in top restaurants, as New York’s WD-50 is closing at the end of this month, and The Tavern on the Green announced a major shakeup. Food Arts Magazine also called it quits in 2014. It makes you wonder what 2015 will bring.

Photo of Boiled stone crab & seaweeds from Food Arts Magazine by René Redzepi