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Although Kate Winslet's acceptance speech at the Golden Globes this weekend may have been a bit "luvee" for some, it's widely seen as a good sign ahead of the Oscars.

Kitchen Rat therefore got to thinking if parallels could be drawn with the AA rosettes, released today, and next week's Michelin stars for Great Britain and Ireland.

Four AA rosettes are surely good news then for Michael Wignall at The Latymer at Pennyhill Park hotel in Surrey, who is no doubt keen to win back at least one Michelin star having held one at the Devonshire Arms in Yorkshire previously (see our Menuwatch for more).

By the same measure, it's not promising for Alan Yau's Hakkasan in London, which was demoted from three AA-Rosettes to two (as was Fredrick's hotel in Maidenhead, Berkshire).

In fact a bad month ahead for the Yaus in general perhaps, with news that Aaya - see our Menuwatch - by Gary Yau has gone into administration despite impressing the critics at launch less than a year ago.

On this note, Michelin starred chef Michael Caines observation that Michelin will be keen not to recognise restaurants that may go under in the UK recession seems sage.

Don't forget to read our report on the AA in today's Caterer where we ask if the organisation is awash after former hotel inspector Jayne Wyatt won her unfair dismissal case last year.

2008: AA rosette rated restaurants>>

Pennyhill Park's Latymer wins Good Food Guide restaurant award>>

Michelin stars 2009 - predictions>>

Michelin stars can be a double-edged sword>>

New head chef at the Dorchester's Grill>>

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:

"Golden brown texture like sun, Lays me down with my mind she runs, Throughout the night, No need to fight, Never a frown with golden brown" was inspiration enough for one new firm.

Stuck for a name that didn't consist of the two founders' surnames, Simon Elliot, who last month launched Gold & Brown with partner Andrea Walwyn at the Academy Health Club in Harrogate, Yorkshire, heard the above Stranglers hit on his car radio and the rest, as they say, is history.

The company, which also has an online ordering business offering a range of locally sourced and ethical British goodies including products from Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate, has dubbed its cafe/delicatessen hybrid at the academy as a Caffètessen and plans two more outlets before Christmas.

Gold & Brown's website certainly impressed judges at Caterersearch's Web Awards last week who named it as their inaugural Foodservice Website winner.

So perhaps Queen's Don't Stop Me Now , Yazz's The Only Way Is Up or even the Sweet Smell Of Sucess by the Stranglers might be more appropriate for 2009.

Apparently before Grant got the boot at Stamford Bridge, due to his failure to win the Champions League and achieving only a runners-up spot in the Premiership, he wrote to Tony Newby of the Best Western Monkbar hotel.

Why? You no doubt ask.

Was he aware of his fate and looking for somewhere to stay the night far away from Mayfair's Russian community in the capital? Was Newby in the frame to fill that tricky right-back position that has vexed recent Chelsea managers?

Not exactly.

The pub industry is still reeling from the retirement of stalwart Tony Hughes, the architect of pub giant Mitchells & Butlers’ (M&B) thriving food business, but the gossip among publicans is not how will M&B cope without their food figurehead but who will turn up to the year's award ceremonies to collect a gong?

Hughes, who stepped down from the M&B board at the end of the year, has since gone on to join the board of the struggling Restaurant Group.

According to that most scientific of tools, Google, a search of the terms "Tony Hughes + Mitchells & Butlers + Awards" generates 43,800 possible answers including Hughes winning a Pub Industry Award Catey in 2001. Searching on the terms "Mitchells & Butlers + awards" generates just 24,400 potential hits. It could be a lean year in the M&B trophy cabinet.

Wow.. well the 23rd Cateys was a hell of bash and thankfully for Kitchen Rat I managed to secure yet another invite. That's 23 years on the run, so I think its high time that I won award now - I hope the judges read this and dream up a suitable category for me for next year! There were many highlights but my favourite memory is Gordon Ramsay's hair. My god, he should become patron of the buffon society for those with "big hair". The TV star and top chef cut a stylish image in his white tie and tux - nice touch, I thought - but had grown the most amazing bread-head. If you weren't there on the night (yah booh sucks that means you weren't invited!) then see CatererTV's Catey 2006 highlights package and look out for Gordon's gigantic blonde buffon!

http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2005/05/12/300551/michael-caines.htmIt's good news to see so many hospitality industry workers in the latest honours list. The Queen covered the full breadth of the hospitality industry in her annual birthday gongs with knighthoods going to serial entrepreneur and "Easyeverything" Stelios and "loadsamoney" David Michels, the outgoing and very rich ex-boss of Hilton UK, and a well-deserved MBE to 98-year-old fish-and-chip shop owner Constance Brown. Also recognised was Michael Caines, who picked up an MBE for his services to cooking.

http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2005/05/12/300551/michael-caines.htmIt's good news to see so many hospitality industry workers in the latest honours list. The Queen covered the full breadth of the hospitality industry in her annual birthday gongs with knighthoods going to serial entrepreneur and "Easyeverything" Stelios and "loadsamoney" David Michels, the outgoing and very rich ex-boss of Hilton UK, and a well-deserved MBE to 98-year-old fish-and-chip shop owner Constance Brown. Also recognised was Michael Caines, who picked up an MBE for his services to cooking.

2005 saw Jamie Oliver win the inaugural CatererSearch 100, a list of the most influential figures in the UK hospitality industry, after his Channel 4 programme caused the government to change it's policy on school meals.

Jamie saw off competition from the likes of then-boss of Compass, Sir Francis MacKay. But who do you think has been the most influential person in the UK hospitality industry in the last 12 months? The 2nd CatererSearch 100 list will be released in August, but they want your thoughts on who should be on it. So if you think you know who should knock Jamie Oliver off of the top slot. tell them about it now.

Blimey. I was about to shoot into central London to gatecrash the BHA's annual lunch at the Royal Lancaster and root around for some gossip when I heard the news about the bombs and decided to crawl back into my hole for the afternoon instead. I have picked up a couple more bits from Tuesday's Cateys and a little gem from Live8, but today hardly seems to be the day to be posting idle chatter. I'll be back later in the week.