With just over a week to go until the 2009 Michelin guide for Great Britain and Ireland is released, rumours are rife about who will and who won't be getting stars this year.
Kitchen Rat spoke to some of the culinary wizards who have gained stars themselves in the past about who they think deserves to win this year.
After last year's relatively poor crop of awards, hopes are high that there'll be at least a few two stars handed out this year. Restaurants including L'Autre Pied, Nathan Outlaw, Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley and Claude and Claire Bosi's Hibiscus are getting the top votes from their peers but the consensus among the industry seems that 2009 will be yet another year where the UK's number of three-starred restaurants will remain unchanged.
Here's what our top chefs had to say:
Anthony Demetre, chef proprietor of London restaurants Arbutus and Wild Honey:
I predict Murano, L'Autre Pied and Theo Randall will gain one star and that Hibiscus and Marcus Wareing will get two stars. I don't think that there will be any new three stars.
Stephen Harris, head chef at the Sportsman in Whitstable, Kent:
I would like to see Fraiche in Liverpool and Anthony's in Leeds gain a star.
Dylan Thomas McGrath, head chef, Mint, Dublin:
Ireland gaining two stars last year was a great success but I don't think there'll be any new stars awarded in Ireland this year.
Bjorn van der Horst, chef patron, Eastside Inn in London (to launch in March):
It's about time the Greenhouse gets a second a star and my tip would be that Hibiscus, Marcus Wareing, Hélène Darroze and possibly Alain Ducasse will also gain two stars.
Glyn Purnell, chef proprietor, Purnell's in Birmingham:
My tip is that L'Autre Pied in London and Danesfield House in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, will gain one star and that Hibiscus will get a second star. While I doubt there'll be any new three-starred restaurants there might be rising three stars, such as Le Champignon Sauvage or Midsummer House. Why Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons hasn't got three stars is beyond me.
Kenny Atkinson, head chef, The White Room, County Durham:
My prediction is that L'Autre Pied will gain a star and that Nathan Oulaw, Hibiscus and Marcus Wareing will gain two stars. If anyone deserves a third star it's David Everitt-Matthias at Le Champignon Sauvage but I'm not sure Michelin will award three stars this year.
Simon Hulstone, chef proprietor, The Elephant, Devon:
My tip would be that Nathan Outlaw will gain his second star and that Ode in Shaldon, Devon, and Fraiche in Liverpool and Texture in London will get a star.
Theo Randall, head chef at his eponymous restaurant at the InterContinental Park Lane:
I think that Murano and Galvin at Windows will gain a star and that Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester will get one or possibly even two stars. I would love to see Philip Howard at The Square gain a third star; he really deserves it.
Michael Wignall, head chef, The Latymer, Surrey:
I doubt there'll be any new three stars this year but my money's on Nathan Outlaw to get his second star.
Daniel Galmiche, executive chef at the Forbury Hotel, Reading:
I'm very hopeful that we'll see three stars this year and I would love to see Marcus Wareing be the next three-star chef in London because he really deserves it. Eric Chavot at The Capital would be my next bet for three stars. Nathan Outlaw will get his second star and my tip is that Sketch might get its second star too.
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