25TH GOURMAND WORLD COOKBOOK AWARDS 2020
For the first time since the founding of the awards in 1995, we release the list of the Best in the World winners before the awards ceremony. International travel is now impossible. Most of our winners will be in their homes for several more weeks. So we decided that releasing the list now might make hundreds happier in these very difficult times. Our main objective has always been to try to help those who “cook with words” in any way we can.
There are also specific books that can help you to remain in a positive mood. Do see On The Hummus Route, a very positive cookbook from the Middle East, that can give hope to all readers, it is in category B02, Best Cookbook of the Year in all categories, as well as category F09 Peace Cookbook.There are many other unexpected gems on the list.
See the list >>>
BEST IN THE WORLD FOOD & DRINK CULTURE
Gourmand Awards 2020
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The Best 25
The Best of The Best - 1995-2020
List of the Best for 25 years in each category for each country
It includes a selection of the Best from two previous anniversary events
- 12 years at Frankfurt Old Opera House
- 20 years at Frankfurt Book Fair Theater
- 25 years will be celebrated in Paris June 3-7 and China November 1-4
ALL past Best in the World are welcome at our events.
The list below is a shortlist with a limited selection of excellent books mostly still available. Some have updated new editions.
There is only one book per country in each category
Countries Total = 106 Algeria to Zimbabwe 96
UN members, 6 Regions, 4 International organizations = Total 106
TRENDS
THE CONTINENTS SHIFT
The Best in the World
| By continents | 1995-2019 | 1995-2009 | |
| France | 11% | 13%. | -2 |
| Other Europe | 38% | 44% | -6 |
| China | 8% | 3% | +5 |
| Other Asia Pacific | 20% | 15% | +5 |
| Latin America | 11% | 5% | +6 |
| Anglo America | 9% | 18% | -9 |
| Africa | 3% | 2% | +1 |
| TOTAL | 100% | 100% |
The shift 2009-2019 in the Best in the World is clear, from the West to the East, from the North to the South. It reflects the investments in quality for the new middle class that buys cookbooks. The middle class is stagnating at best in the West and North, while rising fast in the East and South. Today 85% of the world middleclass is in Asia. Do read Factfulness by Hans Rosling, “a hopeful book about the potential for human progress” says President Barack Obama. It is vital today for authors and publishers in the West to try to reach the foreign markets in the East. There is now a market for excellent cookbooks in many more countries. Our 2009 list had Best in the World from 47 countries. In 2020 it has doubled to over 100.
Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2019
Food Culture
Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2019
Drink Culture
