A restaurant in Queenstown, New Zealand, has just made history. Amisfield Restaurant, located at a winery in the South Island town, has been ranked 99th on the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” extended list for 2024. It is the first restaurant in New Zealand to ever earn this spot.
Chef Vaughan Mabee, who has led the restaurant for 15 years, says this is a major moment for New Zealand’s food scene. He called the award “the Oscars of fine dining” and said it shows how far the country has come in sharing its unique flavours with the world.
The list is created by 1,200 expert voters, including chefs, food writers, and restaurant owners. Votes are collected every year and checked by a company called Deloitte.
Chef Mabee explained that New Zealand’s isolation has made it hard to get noticed. But now, people around the world are discovering the local ingredients and flavours that make Kiwi food special.
At Amisfield, many of the dishes are made with ingredients from nearby. The team works closely with local fishermen, farmers, hunters, and even a paua diver who’s a close friend of the chef.
