TWO top Gwent restaurants retained their Michelin stars in the famous culinary guide's annual list of the UK's best restaurants.
The Walnut Tree at Llanddewi Skirrid, near Abergavenny, and the Crown at Whitebrook, near Monmouth, both kept their previously awarded Michelin stars in the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland 2011, which is released today.
They were two of just four Welsh restaurants to receive Michelin stars in 2011 - the year which marks the prestigious guide's 100th anniversary.
The Crown at Whitebrook retained its coveted Michelin star for the fifth year in a row. Executive head chef James Sommerin said his team were 'ecstatic' and 'over the moon' at the news.
He said: "The Michelin star is a tribute to the tremendously hard work put in by all the extremely talented and dedicated staff at the Crown at Whitebrook."
Roger Brook, head chef at The Walnut Tree, said they were also 'overjoyed' to retain their star for a second year.
He said that judges might have been impressed by some of the more unusual items on the restaurant's menu.
He said: "It's important once we have got the Michelin star that we do not lose it and keep trying to improve. The array of interesting ingredients we use that are not normally seen around here - such as offal, hare, rabbits, or grouse - help to attract people that are really interested in food."
The other two Michelin starred Welsh restaurants were Tyddyn Llan in Denbigshire and Ynyshir Hall in Powys.
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