The Walnut Tree
The Walnut Tree (restaurant) is located in Monmouthshire
The Walnut Tree (restaurant)
Location within the Monmouthshire
Restaurant information
Previous owner(s)Franco Taruschio
Francesco and Enrica Mattioli
Head chefShaun Hill
Food typeBritish cuisine
Rating1 Michelin star (Michelin Guide 2022)
CityLlanddewi Skirrid
CountyMonmouthshire
Postal/ZIP CodeNP7 8AW
CountryWales
Coordinates51°50′36″N 2°57′51″W / 51.843242°N 2.964046°W / 51.843242; -2.964046
Websitewww.thewalnuttreeinn.com

The Walnut Tree is a restaurant in Llanddewi Skirrid, Monmouthshire, Wales. It is run by chef Shaun Hill and holds a Michelin star. It was previously owned by Franco Taruschio for more than 30 years, and had previously held a star when Stephen Terry was head chef there. It closed briefly in 2007, which the owners blamed on an appearance on Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares three years earlier. It regained its Michelin star in 2010 and continues to hold it.

History

The restaurant was opened by Franco Taruschio in the 1960s, who owned The Walnut Tree for more than 30 years.[1] It was purchased by Francesco and Enrica Mattioli in 2001. Under the management of head chef Stephen Terry, it won a Michelin star in 2002, but lost it in 2004 after Terry's departure.[2] He moved to rival Abergavenny restaurant The Hardwick.[3]

The Walnut Tree began to have financial troubles, and so the Mattiolis sought the guidance of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, appearing on the television series Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares in 2004. Ramsay criticised the overpricing at the restaurant and helped them to hire a new head chef. After a second appearance on the Kitchen Nightmares in 2005, Mattioli criticized the show as "fake".[4] The Walnut Tree closed in 2007 after going into receivership due to "involuntary insolvency",[5] and the Mattiolis blamed Ramsay's show for making the restaurant seem too expensive.[6] The restaurant was reopened in early 2008 as a joint partnership between hotel-owner William Griffiths and new head chef Shaun Hill.[3][7]

Reception

In 2008, it was named the BMW Square Meal Best UK Restaurant and the AA Restaurant of the Year for Wales within nine months after reopening under Hill. A year later, The Walnut Tree was named the best restaurant in the UK by the Gourmet Britain food guide, who suggested that Hill could win a Michelin star with the restaurant.[3] The restaurant regained its Michelin star in the 2010 guide,[2] which it still holds as of 2023.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "OFM's classic cookbook: Leaves from the Walnut Tree by Ann and Franco Taruschio". The Guardian. 16 February 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Wales". Michelin Online. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Rhys, Steffan (2 April 2009). "The Walnut Tree in Abergavenny named best restaurant in Britain". WalesOnline. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "Why Gordon Ramsay's second visit to the Walnut Tree Inn didn't go down well". walesonline. 26 March 2005. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  5. ↑ "Famous Walnut Tree eatery closes". BBC News. 28 February 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  6. ↑ "Walnut Tree owners cook up a Ramsay storm". walesonline. 8 March 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  7. ↑ Williams, Sally (18 June 2008). "Nightmare is over for Walnut Tree". walesonline. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  8. ↑ "Walnut Tree – Llanddewi Skirrid - a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant".
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