AN award-winning restaurant has been awarded three AA rosettes for culinary excellence.

Orwells in Shiplake Row is only one of 10 per cent of British restaurants to have achieved that standard.

Chefs Ryan Simpson, 29, and Liam Trotman, 27, took over the Brakspear-owned pub in May 2010.

Last year, they picked up two AA rosettes and won the Good Food Guide’s restaurant of the year 2012 award and restaurant of the year in the Pride of Reading awards.

Mr Simpson said the latest honour was surprise because restaurants weren’t told when they were being inspected.

He added: “We could not achieve this without our dedicated team, especially Kurt Trotman and Jon Kleeman, who head up the front of house. It is nice to be recognised as a three AA establishment as we do work hard and are extremely passionate about the Orwells product.”

Since last year, the chefs have been growing their own salad crops and fruit on a plot of land in Mill Lane, Shiplake, and the restaurant is about 60 per cent self-sufficient. The men’s aim is to be almost totally self-sufficient in vegetables within two years. They were inspired by Tamsin Lovatt, who used to supply the restaurant with produce from the 12 plots at her home at Swiss Farm in Henley.

Mr Simpson used to be head chef at the Goose at Britwell Salome, where he was awarded a Michelin star. He then moved to Orwells with Mr Trotman and they live on the premises.

Published 04/10/12