Is your Instagram feed a monotonous display of hotdog legs, wardrobe mirror selfies and poorly lit dinners for one? If so, you’re probably not following the rock stars of the restaurant world, whose accounts throw up a daily feast of behind-the-scenes kitchen shots, cute dog pics and some irresistible food porn.
We sifted through the Instagrams of The World's 50 Best Restaurants to find you our top 10.
1. David Chang @davidchang
Followers: 238k
Who is he? He's the mastermind behind the Momofuku empire, which spans New York, Sydney and Toronto and includes sister bakery Milk Bar and foodie magazine Lucky Peach. New York-based Momofuku Ko is currently No.69 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants’s extended 51-100 list.
Why you should follow him: There’s a reason why he’s one of the most-followed chefs in the world: David Chang knows how to do food porn, particularly in video form. See below for sensuous brisket action, and refer to his account for slow-mo soft egg yolk on chips, bordering on the erotic...
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2. Alex Atala @alexatala
Followers: 223k
Who is he? The chef behind D.O.M. in São Paulo – No.3 in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2014 and No. 9 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2015 – Alex is widely credited for his pioneering work in the Brazilian Amazon, where he has discovered little-used ingredients and introduced them to his dishes. He also runs Dalva e Dito, just down the road from D.O.M.
Why you should follow him: A glimpse into the rockstar chef’s life, Alex's account has photos of his family, including his dogs Ramona, Elvis and Dita, his tattoos, and a vast array of Amazonian ingredients from Jaraqui fish to giant ants.
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3. Juan Manuel Barrientos @juanmaelcielo
Followers: 148k
Who is he? Juanma, as he is affectionately known, is the young talent behind El Cielo, No.46 in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants. Starting off in Medellin in 2007, the restaurant has since expanded to Bogotá and most recently to Miami. Juanma is famous in Colombia as a TV host for The Taste, and he also supports his country by re-training former guerrilla fighters and soldiers to work in his kitchens.
Why you should follow him: It’s not for nothing that Juanma is among the world’s five most-followed chefs, even topping René Redzepi. Juanma’s account is an eclectic mix of perfectly shot food pics, snaps of the chef posing with starstruck fans (largely female), and professional photos of him brandishing large kitchen knives.
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4. René Redzepi @reneredzepinoma
Followers: 139k
Who is he? René is the chef behind Noma, the four-time No.1 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and current No.3 (but you knew that already).
Why you should follow him: It’s unlikely you’ll get a reservation at Noma, given that tables go within the first few hours of booking each month, but you’ll find plenty of mouth-watering and beautifully shot pictures on his Instagram feed instead. There are also lots of nature pics, as well as that chef selfie with Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud.
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5. Massimo Bottura @massimobottura
Followers: 48.3k
Who is he? Massimo is the self-proclaimed skinny Italian chef behind Osteria Francescana, the new No.2 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.
Why you should follow him: He’s one of the most well-known and well-connected chefs in the world, so you’ll find plenty of visual name-dropping: Massimo posing with René Redzepi, Massimo posing with Alex Atala, Massimo with Joan Roca… There are also some sensational food shots.
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6. Jordi Roca @jordirocasan
Followers: 42.1k
Who is he? One third of the trio behind El Celler de Can Roca, the newly re-crowned S.Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurant, Jordi is the pastry chef and the younger brother of Josep and Joan. He was also crowned The World’s Best Pastry Chef in 2014.
Why you should follow him: This one is for the sweet-toothed and sweet-natured: you’ll see lots of chocolate, macaroons and ice cream. There are also a few cute dog pics.
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7. Thiago Castanho @thiagocastanho
Followers: 19.4k
Who is he? Thiago is one half of the sibling team behind Remanso do Bosque in Belém, the capital of Pará state in northern Brazil. (His brother Felipe is the restaurateur and wine guy).
Why you should follow him: Thiago's account offers some great insights into Amazonian species and ingredients, including one picture of a very chubby looking blowfish, with the caption ‘tag your friends if they look like a Baiacu fish on attack’. You’ll also find the occasional phallic veg shot.
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8. Hélène Darroze @helenedarroze
Followers: 18.5k
Who is she? Hélène is the newly crowned Veuve Clicquot World’s Best Female Chef and the woman behind Hélène Darroze at the Connaught and Hélène Darroze in Paris.
Why you should follow her: Hélène is a tricky woman to pin down – she flits between Paris and London every couple of days to manage her two restaurants and often travels elsewhere for dish inspiration and vacations. Her Instagram feed captures her hectic lifestyle, with French food pics, scenes from around the world and shots of her two adorable daughters, Charlotte and Quiterie.
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9. Janice Wong @janicewong2am
Followers: 8k
Who is she? The woman behind 2am:dessertbar in her native Singapore, Janice was voted Asia’s Best Pastry Chef in 2013 and 2014 and is known for her cutting-edge desserts.
Why you should follow her: Blurring the lines between pastry and art, Janice’s creations often look more like gallery installations than food.
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10. Gaggan Anand @gaggan
Followers: 6k
Who is he? The inimitable Gaggan Anand is the chef behind Gaggan in Bangkok, the new No.1 in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2015 and No.10 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Why you should follow him: Aside from the colourful food imagery and the odd cheeky pic from behind the scenes, the humble Gaggan also shares photos of his team and some emotional moments from their journey to the top. This is one chef who’s truly grateful for his achievements.
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