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After
eight years as a Michelin starred restaurant, Tamarind in Mayfair
has to enter 2009
with the news
that they
have
had their star withdrawn in the 2009 Michelin list. This must have
come as a shock to the restaurant that has been considered as one of
the top Indian establishments in Britain for many years. Rajesh Suri,
CEO of Tamarind said, "We will try our very best to come back
again soon. This tells us that we have not been competent. We let our
guards down and this is the result. Tamarind is still one of the best
Restaurants and we will do every thing in our power to maintain that."
The
big winner in the ethnic sector is Kai in Mayfair which has been
recognized at last with a new Michelin star. Owner Bernard Yeoh said, "It
has taken 15 years but now the pressure is on to keep it! It was one
of your reviews(ed's) which really encouraged us to continue
in the direction which we wanted to go with the food. We had made a
big change in 2006 and fully committed to it after one of your comments."
Casamia
in Bristol is another new Michelin star winner and Udit Sarkhel's
latest restaurant Mango & Spice in London receives its first
Michelin recognition with a new Bib Gourmand.
The
Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2009 is available in
bookshops priced at £15.99 (€19.99 in Ireland).
This
year's guide includes 4 new two star restaurants (The Dining Room at
Whatley Manor, Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Hibiscus and
L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon) and 26 new one star restaurants.
Making-up the list of 'Rising Stars' for 2009 are 3 establishments
tipped for two stars (Tom Aikens, The Ledbury and Nathan Outlaw) and
1 that's tipped for three stars (Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester).
There are also 21 new Bib Gourmand establishments offering 'good food
at moderate prices' - three courses for less than £28 (€40
in Ireland).
Commenting
on this year's selection, editor, Derek Bulmer said: "We
have never awarded so many stars in a single year before. We can now
boast of having a truly mature, rich and exciting restaurant scene.
These new stars have been awarded to a host of establishments from
gastro pubs and family-run locals, to country hotels and fashionable
London restaurants. Among these we have new stars for Chinese,
Italian, French and British cuisine.
"There
is now a better geographical spread of starred restaurants
throughout the country from the Isle of Wight to Lochinver in the
Scottish Highlands, and the four new stars in Scotland is
particularly good news.
"We
have also seen an increase in the number of refreshingly informal
restaurants where the cooking is very good.
"This
was another good year for London. With plenty of new restaurant
openings, the capital can boast of having the one of the most varied
and diverse restaurant scenes in the world.
"However,
there is no doubt that 2009 will bring challenging times for hotels
and restaurants. I am hopeful that the hospitality industry will
prove to be resilient; that customers continue to support their local
pub or restaurant and that dining out will remain part of our lives.
Our inspectors will continue to search out those establishments which
not only maintain their standards but also offer value for money to
their customers."
The
format of the Michelin Guide means that it offers readers an
unrivalled selection of hotels and restaurants to suit all pockets,
in a compact sized book. The 2009 Guide has 4,207 entries, and of
those, 2,516 are hotels and guesthouses and 1,691 are restaurants and
pubs; all regularly and anonymously inspected by Michelin's own team
of professional inspectors.
At
the same time, the Michelin Guide London 2009 is also launched,
priced at £9.99 (€12.99 in Ireland). This new-look guide
was introduced in 2007 and forms part of Michelin's collection of
City guides. It features two entries per page for non-starred
establishments and one entry per page for starred eateries.
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