Restaurant retains award for ninth year running

A RESTAURANT in Shiplake has retained a culinary award for the ninth consecutive year.

Orwells, in Shiplake Row, has been awarded four rosettes from AA.

The awards, which are given out by the British Automobile Association, range from one to five rosettes and aim to recognise culinary excellence.

The 18th century pub, has been run by Ryan and Liam Simpson-Trotman since 2010 and is currently the only restaurant in South Oxfordshire to hold four AA Rosettes.

The pair featured on James Martin’s Saturday Morning Kitchen at the weekend, where they have appeared several times over the years. The chefs cooked one of their “classic” dishes, a curried crab and mango tart.

The recipe features ​​​​​​Cornish crab in shortcrust pastry with a coconut, onion and ginger reduction sauce. The dish is finished with cucumber, lettuce and a shard of crispy chicken and served with mango chutney and lime pickle.

Liam revealed that the pair use an ingredient called “Crispit” to make their pastry that helps to bind it together. It is made from plant-based fibres such as asparagus and hemp.

During the show, Liam explained how the couple started Orwells after leaving a Michelin-starred restaurant due to differing ideas from its owner.

Liam said: “Because we had a loyal following, we thought, ‘let’s do it right, let’s do it properly’ and we left.

“In three weeks, we started the business on £10,000. We went to a friend who loaned us £5,000, we had £5,000 and before you knew it, we were working on May bank holiday 2010. We had 22 guests booked and in your own restaurant it feels like 122.”

He added: “We gave away so much free wine.”