QUILON AWARDED A MICHELIN STAR IN 2008 GUIDE
(23 January 2008)

Michelin today released its 2008 guide for Great Britain and Ireland awarding fifteen restaurants their first Michelin star, keeping the total of establishments holding stars in Great Britain and Ireland to 122, the same number as last year. Among the recipients this year, is Indian restaurant 'Quilon' under executive chef Aylur Sriram - a specialist in South Indian, Kerala cuisine. Other India restaurants awarded a Michelin star are Mayfair based restaurants 'Tamarind' and 'Amaya', Rasoi Vineet Bhatia and Atul Kochhar's 'Benares.

Among the other newly starred restaurants are high-profile operations including restaurateurs Anthony Demetre and Will Smith's second venture Wild Honey and Gary Rhodes' latest venture Rhodes W1 in London, Nathan Outlaw in Cornwall, which was also listed as a rising two-star establishment.

The guide has not promoted any restaurants to the coveted two or three-Michelin-starred status. The move not only sees 2008 as the fourth consecutive year without the top accolade of three-stars being awarded, but also marks, what is being described by the industry, as a disappointing crop of awards.

New one Michelin star restaurants are :

Scotland

Ballachulish House, Ballachulish, Highland
Champany Inn, Linlithglow, West Lothian

England

The Goose, Britwell Salome, Oxon
West Stoke House, Chichester/West Stoke, West Sussex
Apicius, Cranbrook, Kent
Nathan Outlaw, Fowey, Cornwall
Tean, Scilly Isle/St Martin's, Cornwall
The Sportsman, Whitstable/Seasalter, Kent

London

La Trompette, Chiswick
Rhodes W1 (Restaurant), Marylebone
Quilon, Victoria
Hibiscus, Mayfair
Wild Honey, Mayfair

Republic of Ireland

Mint, Ranelagh, Dublin
Bon Appétit, Malahide, Dublin

Rising One Stars

England

The Wheatsheaf, Bath/Combe Hay, Bath & North East Somerset
Combe House, Honiton/Gittisham, Devon
The Nut Tree, Murcott, Oxon
Auberge du Lac, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

London

Galvin at Windows, Mayfair

Rising Two Stars

Hibiscus, Mayfair, London
Tom Aikens, Chelsea, London
Nathan Outlaw, Fowey, Cornwall

THE MICHELIN STAR SYSTEM EXPLAINED

One-Michelin-star: A very good restaurant or pub in its category

The star indicates a good place to stop on your journey. But beware of comparing the star given to an expensive de luxe establishment with that of a simple restaurant where you can appreciate fine cooking at a reasonable price.

Two-Michelin-star: Excellent cooking, worth a detour

Specialities and wines of first class quality. This will be reflected in the price

Three-Michelin-star: Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey

One always eats here extremely well, sometimes superbly. Fine wines, faultless service, elegant surroundings. One will pay accordingly!

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