Great international success for the Tyrolean chef Benjamin Parth: His gourmet restaurant Stüva is now one of the few members of the exclusive restaurant association Les Grandes Tables du Monde. This was announced by the renowned guide during the presentation of its 2020 edition in Paris on January 27, 2020. Only 188 establishments worldwide are represented in the association, including eight Austrians. At 31 years old, Parth is one of the youngest members.
“Our association Les Grandes Tables du Monde represents the who’s who of international gastronomy. It is, in a sense, the haute couture of haute cuisine,” said David Sinapian, president of the restaurant association founded in 1954 and based in Paris. Only 188 restaurants are listed in the 2020 guide. This year, 13 new members were admitted.
Strict selection process
“The number of restaurants applying to join us increases year by year, which is a clear indicator of the prestige and influence of our association,” Sinapian explained. However, the selection process is strict and lengthy, and not every application succeeds. David Sinapian explains: “To be admitted to Les Grandes Tables du Monde, a chef must first be recommended by three existing members of the association. The second condition – insufficient on its own – is at least two Michelin stars or an equivalent rating from a respected gourmet guide in countries not covered by the Michelin Guide. The application is then reviewed by our Board of Directors. A listing in our guide does not only mean that the restaurant serves fine cuisine – after all, we are not an ordinary restaurant guide. It means that the experience in our member establishments is extraordinary. There is a difference between a good restaurant and a 'Grande Table'!”
Exclusive group: only eight Austrians
Alongside Restaurant Simon Taxacher, Benjamin Parth’s gourmet restaurant Stüva is only the second Tyrolean top restaurant in the exclusive ranks of Les Grandes Tables du Monde. Other members in Austria include Restaurant Obauer and Steirereck.
About Les Grandes Tables du Monde
Founded in 1954 by six Parisian restaurateurs, Les Grandes Tables du Monde today includes 188 establishments across 25 countries on five continents. Driven by the shared desire to offer a unique gastronomic and sensory experience, these restaurateurs are ambassadors of rare culinary excellence, balancing tradition, transmission, and innovation. The Bureau of Grandes Tables and its president David Sinapian act as catalysts for this exceptional lifestyle through the promotion of contemporary haute cuisine, which is as sophisticated as it is uncomplicated, as ambitious as it is dynamic. https://lesgrandestablesdumonde.com