Gidleigh Park receives the first ever five AA Rosette Award to be awarded in January

Gidleigh Park is celebrating following news it has become the first restaurant to ever be awarded the AA’s top hospitality award of five AA Rosettes in its January announcements.

The AA has been awarding Rosettes to restaurants since 1956, with the top award of five rosettes being introduced in 1991. Awarded bi-annually in January and September, previously the top accolade of five AA rosettes has only ever been issued with the main awards in September, but feedback from the inspectors confirmed an exception for Gidleigh Park, with the award announced today, Tuesday 17 January.

Awarded to the restaurant at Gidleigh Park and to its chef Michael Wignall, the criteria for five AA Rosettes is “The supreme accolade awarded only when the cooking is at the pinnacle of achievement. Flavour combinations and textures show a faultless sense of balance, giving each dish an extra dimension”.

Executive Head Chef Michael Wignall joined Gidleigh Park in January 2016 and is one of the country’s most respected chefs. He is well known for having a great respect for food and an ever evolving style which creates unique dishes full of flavour, underpinned by a contemporary, less formal approach to fine cuisine.

Alistair Sandall, Commercial Manager at AA Hotel Services said, “While the awarding of new five rosettes is usually included in our main Hospitality Awards in September, we all felt that we could not delay this award until then. Michael Wignall has transferred his exquisite skills and style to Gidleigh Park and has made this undoubtedly worthy of this accolade”.

Michael Wignall commented, “This is great news to start 2017 and richly deserved by the brilliant team here at Gidleigh Park. We’re delighted that the inspectors enjoyed their visits to the restaurant and are honoured that they have made an exception to give us this award now. We look forward to welcoming both new and returning guests throughout 2017 and beyond”.

The news of five AA Rosettes follows Gidleigh Park being awarded two Michelin stars in October 2016.

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