The publishing of the Michelin Guide to Great Britain & Ireland 2013 sees some of Gloucestershire’s best restaurants once again awarded a fresh constellation of coveted Michelin Stars.
The world famous gastronomic guide to the UK’s top restaurants has recognised four Gloucestershire eateries with Michelin Stars in its new 2013 edition.
The guide was officially published on Friday 5 October 2012, with this year’s Stars infamously leaked a week early on the Michelin website. The annual guide is on sale now from amazon.co.uk.
Nationally, there were few big surprises in this year’s guide, with Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck and the famous Waterside Inn in Bray both maintaining a Three Michelin Star status, as did Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester and Gordon Ramsay in London too.
There were three new Two Star restaurants, bringing the total to 20 of these top restaurants nationwide – including Gloucestershire’s own Le Champignon Sauvage, of course; while 18 new One Star restaurants were also added.
The Michelin Guide to Great Britain & Ireland 2013 says that three Michelin Stars indicates ‘exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.’ This year, once again, four restaurants in the UK were awarded three Michelin Stars. Unfortunately, discerning diners will have to travel outside of Gloucestershire to experience any of these restaurants.
The Michelin Guide to Great Britain & Ireland 2013 says two Michelin Stars indicates ‘excellent cooking, worth a detour’. This year 20 restaurants in the UK and Ireland were awarded Two Stars – including Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham.
Le Champignon Sauvage has remained one of Cheltenham and Gloucestershire’s finest restaurants since it was opened in 1987 by chef David Everitt-Matthias and his wife Helen. Serving modern French food made from the finest ingredients, Le Champignon Sauvage has become both a favourite with Gloucestershire foodies, as well as gastronomes travelling to the county especially to dine at the renowned restaurant in the Suffolks area of Cheltenham.
A sample menu includes: pressed terrine of confit rabbit, brown trout, apple and watercress, with a beetroot and horseradish salad for starter; pavé of Gloucester Old Spot pork, braised cheek, pigs head, smoked maple and raisin purée for main course; followed by salted chicory root iced mousse, vanilla rice pudding and rich chocolate sorbet for dessert.
See Le Champignon Sauvage for SoGlos’s review and more information.
The Michelin Guide to Great Britain & Ireland 2013 says One Michelin Star indicates ‘a very good restaurant in its category’. This year more than 120 restaurants in the UK and Ireland were awarded one star – including 5 North Street in Winchcombe, Lords of the Manor Restaurant in Upper Slaughter and The Butchers Arms in Eldersfield.
5 North Street, owned and run by chef Marcus Ashenford and his wife Kate, has become a destination restaurant since first opening its doors in 2003. Almost a decade later the restaurant’s good value menu of refined modern British and European dishes has ensured that the cosy Winchcombe restaurant has remained a popular choice both for locals and those from further afield.
A sample menu includes: terrine of ethically-produced foie gras, quail, pistachio and ham hock, pineapple chutney and truffle brioche for starter; Gloucester Old Spot pork rack, crackling, caramelised apple, confit pork shoulder and savoy cabbage for main course; with warm Jamaica cake, duck egg custard, poached rhubarb and sorbet with a poppy seed biscuit for dessert.
See 5 North Street for more information.
Lords of the Manor, under the watchful eye of executive chef Matt Weedon, offers acclaimed fine-dining in one of Gloucestershire’s most beautiful hotels in Upper Slaughter, near Bourton-on-the-Water. The menu offers sumptuous, seasonal British food influenced by French cuisine, with prices to match. This is the fifth year that Lords of the Manor has been awarded its very well deserved One Michelin Star.
A sample menu includes: roasted diver-caught Scottish scallops cooked three ways with celeriac and apple, lemon and Oscietra caviar for starter; fillet of Cotswold Longhorn beef, braised oxtail, English snails and wild garlic, with caramelised onion purée and red wine sauce for main course; followed by a dessert of Valrhona chocolate.
See Lords of the Manor Restaurant for more information.
The small village of Eldersfield, near Corse, is home to the husband-and-wife-run The Butchers Arms, which champions real ales and maintains its cosy country pub atmosphere while serving exceptionally good seasonal cuisine – much of which is homemade.
A sample menu includes: pan-fried breast of squab pigeon with potato pancake and black pudding for starter; roasted breast of Gressingham duck with poached fig tart, buttered chard and roasted potato cake for main course; with homemade doughnuts with vanilla ice cream and strawberry sauce for dessert.
See The Butchers Arms for more information.
As well as awarding the famous Michelin Stars, since 1997 the Michelin guides have also included Bib Gourmand recognition of establishments offering ‘good food at moderate prices’. At these establishments diners can enjoy three quality courses for less than £28.
In 2013, more than 100 restaurants and gastropubs were awarded a Bib Gourmand icon, three of these fall within the Gloucestershire borders – with The Old Butchers in Stow-on-the-Wold losing a Bib Gourmand and The Horse and Groom in Bourton-on-the-Hill gaining a new Bib Gourmand this year.
The Gumstool Inn in Tetbury is Calcot Manor’s warm and welcoming gastropub which serves modern European dishes in hearty portions and with an imaginative flair. The Gumstool is as popular with food-lovers as it is with real ale connoisseurs – or those who enjoy both!
See The Gumstool Inn for more information.
Owens Restaurant in Tewkesbury has been awarded a Bib Gourmand for the second year running in the 2013 Guide. Housed in a 15th century building, Owens serves modern British and French classics using local and seasonal ingredients – with the sticky toffee pudding a particular pull.
See Owens Restaurant for more information.
The Horse and Groom in Bourton-on-the-Hill is run by brothers Will and Tom Greenstock and has been awarded its first Bib Gourmand in 2013. Expect a lively atmosphere, great views and an innovative menu of European favourites on the daily changing blackboard menu.
See Horse and Groom for more information.
By Michelle Fyrne
© SoGlos
Monday 01 April 2013
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