No new Michelin stars for East of England
As an annually updated printed guide, Michelin are rarely in possession of a scoop and more often than not appear to be rubber-stamping the buzz created around restaurants by reviews in the national press, features in trade magazines like The Caterer and Restaurant magazine and websites and newsletter with an inside track like hot-dinners.com and code-london.co.uk.
Having left as head chef of a Michelin-starred restaurant in the capital to return to his home town, Billy had the high accolade in sight as a long-term goal but never dreamed it would come in just 18 months.
It had closed following the death of award-winning chef and owner Peter Jukes, who had run the restaurant for 30 years, in December 2012.
Of the 17 new additions to this year’s 2016 Michelin guide, there are 15 new one star restaurants and two new two star restaurants, with Japanese restaurants Araki and Umu, both in Mayfair, each receiving two Michelin stars.
“I’m now getting ready for a dinner I’m doing in Mexico City and am most proud that I’m able to do something like this away from the restaurant”.
Burr added: “Stars and Bib Gourmands are annual awards”. I’m delighted for the staff here, I’m also delighted for Mikael.
“We were working towards it but I suppose my focus has changed from being an employee to being an employer”. Michelin still demands huge respect among chefs.
“I have to pay tribute to our wonderful team in Eipic and especially our wonderful head chef Danni Barry and the work that they’ve put in for just a year and a half”.
In Leeds chef Michael O’Hare was celebrating his first Michelin Star for The Man Behind The Curtain with his former Great British Menu rival Tim Allen.
Seven Irish restaurants also received “Bib Gourmand” awards, which recognise those who provide “good quality, great value food” and three courses for under €40. “Michelin-starred” has become a generic trademark synonymous with top drawer cooking.
In the Republic of Ireland, two restaurants – The Greenhouse on Dawson Street, Dublin and Loam on Fairgreen Road, Galway – have been awarded Michelin stars, bringing to nine the total number of Michelin star restaurants in Ireland.