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Former MasterChef winner James Nathan has joined the Michelin-starred Bath Priory as junior sous chef, Kitchen Rat can reveal.

The 2008 winner of the BBC show, which gives amateur cooks the chance to make the jump to becoming professional chefs, will be working under the guidance of the property's new executive head chef Michael Caines.

Caines has taken over the reins at the Bath Priory following the departure of Chris Horridge, who left in January to join von Essen's Cliveden hotel.

Head chef is James Sheridan, who joins from Caines' two-Michelin-starred restaurant at Gidleigh Park, where he was sous chef. It's his first role as head chef.

The Bath Priory will reopen Monday week (16 March) after a six-week refurbishment programme, which included a complete revamp of the kitchen.

Look out for a Minute on the Clock interview with general manager Sue Williams in next week's issue of Caterer and Hotelkeeper out on 12 March. 

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>>