New chefs on the block

The Good Food Guide 2009 today announces the top 40 UK restaurants – and there's a pack of new chefs chasing the tails of the top dogs.

Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck is still number one (with a stunning ten out of ten* this year), followed by Gordon Ramsay in second place. Chef Marcus Wareing has driven Pétrus up four places, to pip Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons to third place.

Lower down the chart is a crop of exciting British talent who Good Food Guide editor, Elizabeth Carter, says could be challenging for top spots in the near future. These chefs (currently scoring seven or eight out of ten**) all have enormous talent and could become the next Blumenthal or Ramsay:

Nathan Outlaw at Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Cornwall (No 11, up one place) has been making "discreet but powerful waves" by producing "incredible food."

Jason Atherton at Maze, London (15, up 19 places) demonstrates "confident, pace-setting cooking and compelling flavour juxtapositions."

Shaun Rankin at Bohemia, Jersey (17, up 12 places) is a "hugely accomplished talent cooking at the top of his game."

Adam Simmonds at Danesfield House, Marlow (new entry at 19) "shows elements of pure genius."

Michael Wignall at the Latymer, Surrey (new entry at 27) demonstrates a "complex and highly technical modern approach."

Elizabeth Carter, editor of The Good Food Guide, says: "Is the old guard about to be toppled? These are exciting times for the UK restaurant scene with some really talented young chefs emerging who could go all the way to the top."

Words: Clare Riley

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