Cumbria’s L’Enclume tops Good Food Guide
MULTI-award winning North West chef Simon Rogan, has added another accolade.
His two Michelin star restaurant, L’Enclume, based at Cartmel in Cumbria has achieved the top spot in Waitrose Good Food Guide 2014 for the very first time.
Restaurants in the Good Food Guide are awarded a cooking score out of 10, with L’Enclume – which uses ingredients from Mr Rogan’s neighbouring farm – achieving the top score for the second year in a row.
In the number two spot is Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck, which has scored a perfect 10 for six years in a row.
Elizabeth Carter, consultant editor of the Good Food Guide, explains what makes L’Enclume so special: ‘After achieving the top score in last year’s Guide, Rogan and his team haven’t missed a beat, despite the pressures of the past year – from opening the French at the Midland Hotel in Manchester to overseeing a pop-up restaurant in London. Rogan rightfully takes his place as leader of the pack when it comes to modern British cooking.
“His fantastic way with seasonal ingredients from the Cumbrian land and coast brings dishes that are a joyful celebration of this county’s magnificent diversity. L’Enclume is truly deserving of the number one spot.”
Mr Rogan, head chef at L’Enclume, comments on his success: ‘I’m so proud of my staff and this phenomenal achievement with The Good Food Guide. This is something we have always dreamed about. We have received this accolade because of our focus on both the food product and the customer – keeping it natural and fresh in the kitchen, and friendly but professional in the dining room.
“The development of the infrastructure behind the scenes has also been a key factor to our success as we are constantly evolving and improving what we have in place, and will continue to do so.’
The Good Food Guide’s annual Top 50 restaurant ranking is highly regarded by chefs and restaurant-goers alike, with particular attention paid to those chefs and restaurants who make it into the Top 10.
L’Enclume is the only North West restaurant in the top 10, and is ranked ahead of Gordon Ramsay’s London flagship and Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, in Oxfordshire.
