Forget the Oscars: For foodies, the only awards that count are "The World's 50 Best Restaurants," an annual ranking of the finest gastronomy across the globe.

As decided by a panel of 1,000 expert judges, this just-released list is the gold standard for the best of fine dining, from the classic to the wildly inventive. This year, five continents were represented — though perhaps not surprisingly, European restaurants nabbed more than half the spots.

Want to see what topped the list...while fantasizing about the best food of your life? Read on.