London’s new Michelin stars revealed

Fifteen London restaurants have been awarded Michelin stars in the 2014 edition of the Michelin Guide, which goes on sale next month.

Lima’s head chef Virgilio Martinez

“London has never offered so much choice. With cuisines and culinary influences from all parts of the globe, it’s no surprise that the capital is one of the most exciting cities in the world for food,” said the guide’s editor, Rebecca Burr.

Lima in Fitzrovia has made history by becoming the first Peruvian restaurant in Europe to wine a Michelin star.

A collaboration between entrepreneurial Venezuelan brothers, Gabriel and José Luis Gonzalez, and celebrated Peruvian chef Virgilio Martinez, Lima London opened last July offering a broad spectrum of Peruvian cuisine including wild produce from the Andes and the Amazon.

Duck at Ametsa with Arzak Instruction

“I am so proud of our team who work to exceptional standards at every service, and feel this is a testament to all of our hard work over the past year.

“To be the first Peruvian restaurant to achieve a star in UK and Europe is a huge accolade,” said Gabriel Gonzalez.

Jason Atherton’s Soho bistro Social Eating House also scooped a star, just five months after opening.

Matching sister restaurant Pollen Street Social’s one star, head chef Paul Hood, who was cherry picked by Atherton to head up the restaurant, which pays homage to the best of British cooking with international influences, said:

“A Michelin star is an incredible accomplishment for the Jason Atherton group. I am so proud of my team who have worked so hard over the last five months to achieve this.”

Also honoured this year was Ametsa with Arzak Instruction, which opened in March at The Halkin hotel in Belgravia.

Bed & Breakfast at Bo London

Ametsa is the London outpost of three Michelin-starred San Sebastian restaurant Arzak, run by father-daughter duo Juan Mari and Elena Arzak.

Another London outpost for an international chef – Alvin Leung’s Bo London in Mayfair, was also awarded a star for Leung’s signature brand of “X-treme Chinese cuisine” given an English twist in dishes such as Bed & Breakfast.

Celebrated French chef Eric Chavot received a star at Brasserie Chavot in Mayfair, as did one-to-watch Tom Sellers at Story in London Bridge, which offers the likes of Three Bears Porridge and beef dripping candles.

Meanwhile, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge and The Greenhouse in Mayfair were both honoured with a second star, while L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Covent Garden lost its second star, though with 21 stars, Robuchon remains the chef with the most Michelin stars in the world.

Alain Ducasse comes a close second on 18, with Gordon Ramsay in third on 10.

In the value stakes, Loire wine specialist Green Man & French Horn in Covent Garden and Bruno Loubet’s veggie-focused Grain Store in King’s Cross were both named “Bib Gourmands” for their high quality yet affordable offerings.

The UK now has a total of 167 Michelin stars. Four restaurants hold three (Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea and the Fat Duck and Waterside Inn in Bray), while 21 hold two and 142 have been awarded one star.

The Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2014 goes on sale next month, priced at £15.99.