ONE of the Isle of Wight's top restaurants has been awarded a prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand for the third year running.
Staff at The Restaurant, at The Seaview Hotel, this week celebrated the culinary hat trick, which has seen new head chef Liam Howes, aged just 24, become one of the youngest chefs to have a Michelin award.
He said: “We are lucky to work with fantastic suppliers on the Island and the quality of ingredients from cheese, to seafood, to heritage vegetables is quite simply exceptional. Outstanding ingredients, and a talented team, now that’s the winning combination.”
With a focus on modern British cuisine, his dishes include hake with clams, Living Larder stuffed pepper, samphire and harissa hollandaise, Green Barn Farm goats cheese soufflé with fiery local watercress veloute, black olive crumbs and Oil of Wight extra virgin rapeseed oil.
“I used to experiment with flavours when I was a nipper and now I do it for a living. If you have a good palette and a sense of adventure you can create interesting and memorable pairings” said Liam, who was made head chef this year.
Seaview Hotel owner Martin Gardener said: “I knew Liam was an exceptional chef but it’s a big deal being a head chef at only 24. Getting the Bib for the third year shows just how determined and talented Liam and his team are.” 
Created by Michelin in 1997, in recognition of affordable and creative dining, the Bib Gourmand is as noteworthy as the coveted stars. 
Only 145 UK restaurants have the Bib, and The Seaview Hotel is the only one on the Isle of Wight.
Other Isle of Wight venues featured in the 2018 Michelin Guide include The Taverners, Godshill, Thompson's, Newport, The Royal Hotel, Ventnor, Dan's Kitchen, St Helens, and The Little Gloster, Gurnard.
At the awards ceremony held in London yesterday (Monday), Michelin’s international director Michael Ellis praised a new generation of chefs using British ingredients and said modern British cuisine had rightfully taken its place on the world stage.