Chefs from across the globe turned up in their hundreds, when only a week earlier the volcanic ash cloud hanging over the UK had threatened to spoil the event entirely, with our international guests wondering if they'd have more chance of convening on the moon than in London.
There were many highlights, but in the end the World's 50 Best Restaurant awards 2010 will be remembered for one thing: this was the year we had a new number one. After four years of El Bulli at the top, Noma broke the stranglehold.
The lasting fame of Noma and Rene Redzepi is now assured. If Noma attracted a lot of interest when it achieved third place in last year's list, the spotlight on it will now be blindingly bright. A few days on from the event it had already received hundreds of thousands of enquiries.
