Michelin loss for Ramsey

Thursday’s 2010 Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland has been well leaked by now. Though I haven’t found anywhere with a proper conclusive list, the news that Paul Kitching, an Edinburgh-based chef received a copy of the guide from Amazon by mistake last week, only goes to highlight that names are out there.

I had previously read last week that some names had been leaked anyway. There are a few pieces of big news - the first is that we here in the North will continue to have a single Michelin star for Michael Deane’s restaurant (which is currently closed because of burst pipes). Whether or not the 2011 guide will contain a star for the North is something I think is open for debate.

The rumours are that Mr Deane may not be so concerned with gaining the star again. Instead Deane’s may go back to the its brasserie style rather than the split of ultra fine dining and all the rest. I’d imagine in these tough times, it would make more sense. When asked about this, he told us: ?We are exploring a number of options for changing the style of food and the décor and giving Belfast something exciting and new for 2010″.

The other big news is that the man who has had botox on advice from Simon Cowell ? that’s Gordon Ramsey to you and me ? has lost the star that he had at the London hotel, Claridge’s (above). That’s big news for Gordo, whose empire has been rocked with lots of negative press in the last year.

He has, however, retained his three-star status in his Chelsea restaurant (one of only four restaurants to gain three stars).

I’m very interested in the North’s ability to gain stars. It’s disappointing that we currently have only one. Though whether we deserve another is up for debate. Now that Paul Rankin is back working his socks off in the Cayenne kitchen, maybe we’ll see them have a better chance next time around.

Is there anyone you think deserves a star in the North?