Three new restaurants that hit headlines in 2015

The Spaniard David Munoz is one international chef to look out for over the next few years. – AFP pic, December 24, 2015.There were a number of prestigious restaurant openings this year that were highly anticipated by the foodie community across the globe. Let's take a look at three restaurants which had a major impact.

The Fat Duck, Bray, UK

The reopening of Heston Blumenthal's three-Michelin-starred restaurant was highly anticipated. The English chef had gone off to Australia for six months for some culinary experimentation. His restaurant in Bray, which is west of London, finally reopened its doors in September. This brand new Fat Duck serves dishes such a snail porridge and crab ice cream to fine dining fans who are used to the bespectacled chef's unusual recipes. The menu offers a culinary experience based on the chef's childhood memories. Reservations should be made online at the restaurant's website www.thefatduck.co.uk.

High Street, Bray, West Berkshire SL6 2AQ, UK

StreetXo, London, UK 
                  
Spanish chef David Munoz exported his famous fusion restaurant StreetXo for the first time in 2015. He chose London as the second location for his tapas bar which serves his unique version of street food. Munoz, who has won three Michelin stars for his DiverXo restaurant, does not intend to stop there, as he also plans to open a third StreetXo in New York.

15 Old Burlington Street, Mayfair, London, UK

Dominique Ansel

This French pastry chef, who is a superstar in New York, was extremely busy in 2015. He opened a mini-restaurant, called U.P., within his West Village store, which itself only began operating this year, following on from his first outlet in Soho. Dominique Ansel's popularity has been built on the Cronut, a half-croissant, half-donut. New Yorkers have fallen in love with the Cronut, and are prepared to spend hours waiting to buy the first ones out of the oven in the morning. In his mini-restaurant, the chef offers a menu of sweet dishes inspired by various emotions. Some are trompe-l'œil creations that look like savory dishes, but aren't. The menu costs US$85 (RM364) and the wine pairing is US$35. Reservations are made online at dominiqueanselkitchen.com. You'll need to book well ahead as the restaurant only has space for eight people.

137 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014, USA. – AFP, December 24, 2015.