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Michelin Success for Top Tyneside Restaurant

Top North East chef David Kennedy’s newest restaurant has received a welcome first birthday present – a prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand.

David Kennedy’s River Café on North Shields’ Fish Quay opened 12 months ago and officially celebrated its first birthday on Septemebr 26.

And just 24 hours later they heard the good news that the restaurant which specialises in seafood landed from the very boats diners can watch plying their trade just yards along the Fish Quay, had won the esteemed accolade.

David Kennedy’s River Café is one of just two North East restaurants that has been awarded a Bib Gourmand for the first time in the new Michelin Guide 2013 – details of which were accidentally leaked early ahead of the food Bible’s official launch on October 5.

The other is Terry Laybourne’s Broad Chare in Newcastle.

The two eateries are among only 22 new Bib Gourmand’s awarded across England. In total just 137 restaurants across the UK and Republic of Ireland retained or were given Bib Gourmand status.

Bib Gourmand’s are awarded to establishments that serve good food at a moderate price.

Since opening in September 2011, David Kennedy’s River Café has won many plaudits for its special credit crunch menu which runs alongside the a la carte, offering three seasonal and locally sourced courses for just £4.95.

David Kennedy says the team at River Café were “shocked but thrilled” with the news. “What a fantastic accolade and an incredible first birthday present for River Café to receive a Bib Gourmand. It is a great achievement for the whole team.

“We have always known that River Café is special, and this award is, quite literally, the icing on our birthday cake.

“It shows the hard work, commitment, dedication and consistency shown by everyone involved with River Café has really paid off. It’s a really big pat on the back for an incredible team who deserve every bit of acclaim that comes their way.

“But I have always said a chef is only as good as the ingredients he has to work with, so praise is also due to our wonderful suppliers who day in and day out come up trumps, and inspire the River Café kitchen team headed up by the talented John Wiegmann, to achieve great things.”

The Bib Gourmand award comes as David Kennedy prepares to open his third dining outlet at Vallum Farm just off the A69 in Northumberland which will see the former North East Chef of the Year moving into the retail market with a tie-in farm shop promoting many of the local producers championed on the menus at his three restaurants.

River Café is a sister restaurant to the award-winning David Kennedy’s Food Social at the Biscuit Factory commercial art gallery in Newcastle.

Situated above the Quay Taphouse in Bell Street on North Shields Fish Quay, it has just undergone a major refurbishment to coincide with its first birthday which has seen the dining area given an ultra-modern and chic contemporary makeover.

River Café is run by David in partnership with Paul Scott, who he first worked with when they were employed by renowned North East chef Terry Laybourne, and Michelle Dickie, formerly the bar manager at the Magnesia Bank in North Shields.

Paul says: “It is every restaurateur and chefs dream to be recognised by Michelin, but for that to happen after just 12 months is phenomenal. Our strength is in keeping things simple and using seasonal Northumbrian ingredients wherever possible.

“It’s been a very pleasing first year.”

• River Café, 51 Bell Street, Fish Quay, North Shields, NE30 1HF, 0191 296 6168, www.davidkennedysrivercafe.com, Twitter: @DKRiverCafe. Open Tuesday-Thursday 5.30pm-9.30pm, Friday-Saturday 12pm-10pm and Sunday 12pm-5pm.
• David Kennedy’s River Café set three-course menu at £4.95 is available Tuesday-Saturday.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jane Hall .