Dear Friends and Guests,
I am delighted to welcome back two serious and talented chefs. Jean-Marc Zanetti, who trained with me at Gidleigh Park and was the first Executive Chef at the Michael Caines Restaurant at ABode Exeter, returns to take up the Executive Chef role at the Michael Caines Restaurant at ABode Canterbury. Meanwhile Canterbury's former Executive Chef, Mark Rossi, who also worked alongside me at Gidleigh Park, rejoins us to take over the top job at the Michael Caines Restaurant at ABode Manchester. This follows the departure of Ian Matfin, who did a great job in helping to build the success of our restaurant since the opening of ABode Manchester in 2008. We wish him well in whatever he does in the future.
I consider my relationship with my chefs to be deep and meaningful. We are more than just professional colleagues: we share friendships based above all on mutual respect and the sharing of values. In all the Michael Caines Restaurants now, you will see that about half of the dishes bear the MC logo - indicating that they are my own signature dishes. This leaves about half the menus for my chefs to have the freedom and the platform to develop in their own creative and personal dishes. That is what makes dining in a Michael Caines Restaurant such a unique and exciting experience.
I have long been proud to proclaim that Michael Caines is inclusive not exclusive. We have proved this through the popularity of our dining concepts at all levels, from Gidleigh Park, The Bath Priory and Michael Caines Restaurants in ABode hotels, to our more informal MC Café Bar & Grills and MC Taverns. Good food served with friendly style is for everyone, I firmly believe, and this is what we aim to offer.
At the same time, I am equally excited to announce the launch of our Exclusive Dining Club. I have made my name and my reputation on a signature style of cuisine that is at once modern, based on the finest local and regional produce and ingredients, yet which is also rooted in classic cooking techniques and traditions. Alongside this, we stand for professional and friendly service of the highest order. This was recognised when Gidleigh Park was rated the number one restaurant in the UK in The Sunday Times/Hardens Guide Top 100 British Restaurants.
Increasingly, I have been asked by you, our friends and customers, to create an exclusive dining club for those who enjoy dining at the highest level. Therefore I am delighted to present our Exclusive Dining Club, available only to a strictly limited number. Members will enjoy not only discounts, but also exclusive dining events, priority booking and many other members' benefits at Gidleigh Park, The Bath Priory and ABodes in Exeter, Manchester, Glasgow, Canterbury and Chester. You'll find details of how to join here.
2010 was an exciting year of achievement for all of us. ABode Chester opened its doors to great acclaim. This amazing, completely new hotel and restaurant has added something very special both to Chester as well as to the ABode portfolio. We are hugely proud of what the team has achieved and we are confident that it will continue to gain well-deserved accolades in the years to come.
2011 looks sets to be a busy and an exciting year for me, personally. As always, there is a great deal going on, not all of which I can reveal now. All I can say is, Watch this space!
Andrew and Christina Brownsword and I look forward to seeing you at Gidleigh Park, The Bath Priory, and or at an ABode hotel sometime soon.
Michael Caines MBE
