Allium in Fairford Is South West Restaurant of the Year
Allium in Fairford has been awarded the title of Which? Good Food Guide South West Restaurant of the Year.
Recognising excellence and good service at independently owned restaurants, pubs and cafés across the country, the award included a public vote which received over 20,000 entries.
Elizabeth Carter, Editor of The Good Food Guide, said:
Allium is a well deserved winner of the regional award. James Graham is something of a food crusader, championing high quality local produce on regularly changing, seasonal menus and delivering some fine and original cooking with a proper appreciation of the importance of flavour.
We know from the feedback we receive throughout the year that people feel passionately about great local restaurants, and this award is an opportunity to give them recognition
Allium will be featured in the 2009 edition of The Good Food Guide and will now compete with nine other regional winners for The Which? Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year award, which will be presented at a ceremony on 17 June 2008 at the British Museum.
Allium (1 London Street, Fairford, Gloucestershire GL7 4AH) is a relaxed contemporary restaurant situated in the pretty Cotswold Wool Town of Fairford between Lechlade and Cirencester.
Located at the bottom of the market Square, the grade II listed building boasts warm, modern interior and offers Contemporary British cuisine using well-sourced ingredients with friendly service and an imaginative wine list.
Husband and wife team, James and Erica Graham, own Allium. James is Head Chef and Erica runs front of house. James’s past experience includes a stint at the OXO Tower and The English House, after which he left the capital to work at Petit Blanc in Oxford, followed by Peter Gorton’s Horn of Plenty, then to return to Raymond Blanc to work at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons.
Erica and James have worked as a team since 2001 at Wickham Vineyard in the heart of Meon Valley where they were able to build up a solid reputation for fine modern cuisine using well-sourced ingredients, matched with friendly, warm service and an imaginative wine list. In 2004 the opportunity arose for James and Erica to purchase their own restaurant and Allium opened in May 2004.
Examples of starters include ‘ Linguini of Wild Rabbit, Toasted Breadcrumbs and Sage”, “Roasted Skate Wing with Snails and Beurre Noisette” Main dishes boast ‘Trio of Lucy Muller’s Mutton”, “Braised Brisket of English Rose Veal” and ‘Roasted Zander with Artichokes and Potato & Oilve Oil Sauce” Desserts offer ‘Assiette of Blood Orange’ and ‘Prune and Armagnac Soufflé”.
The Cheeseboard is also well known for its vast array of British only cheeses, being awarded Restaurant British Cheeseboard of the year in 2006.
The wine list at Allium boasts about 400 bins, with over 30 dessert wines covering countries as diverse as England, India, Greece as well as a large contingent from France and the New World. Also available is an extensive list of local and International bottled beers and a full sherry list.
Allium has now completely recovered from the severe flooding it experienced in July 2007. The three month closure and subsequent kitchen refit have enabled the team to spend more time with local farmers and producers to produce a supply chain with unrivalled provenance and quality.
The attention to detail of the kitchen produce has extended to James and Sous Chef Nick Bartimote regularly accompanying animals to the abattoir to ensure the welfare standards set during their production continues until they reach the plate.
Previous awards & accolades for Allium include:
- Gloucestershire Newcomer of the Year 2005 (6/10 05/06/07/08)
- South West Restaurant of the Year (Les Routiers 2005)
- 1 Star ‘An Impressive Performance’ (Hardens 2005)
- 1 Star ‘Exceptional cooking’ (Egon Ronay Guide 2006)
- Cotswold Life Chef of the Year 2006
- Restaurant British Cheeseboard of the Year 2006
Filed under: Awards, England, Restaurants