11:02am Thursday 19th November 2009
MasterChef winner Mat Follas’s restaurant has won its second outstanding review in as many months.
The Wild Garlic in Beaminster scored near-perfect marks in the respected monthly food magazine Olive.
His overall mark of 56 out of a possible 60 beat well known names such as Richard Corrigan whose Mayfair restaurant, in London, scored 48 points and Hugh Fearnley- Whittingstall’s River Cottage Canteen in Axminster which scored 44.
By chance one of the two Olive critics in the Pro vs Punter column was Gregg Wallace, a judge on the BBC’s MasterChef competition, however the former greengrocer turned cookery writer did not let on why he was really there.
In his verdict given in the December issue he wrote: “The Wild garlic is buzzy and busy, a fun place serving good, honest food.
“The wine list is full of real bargains, too. The food, although well prepared, could be a little smarter. If this was MasterChef I’d say Mat needs to work on his presentation.”
The second critic, the punter, was Dorset foodie Jane Colston, who gave the Beaminster restaurant top marks for food, atmosphere and service.
She wrote: “We left feeling like old friends and valued customers. The Wild Garlic is comfortable, welcoming and informal place to meet friends and enjoy well cooked, beautifully presented food at very fair prices.”
Mat, who only took up professional cooking when he opened the restaurant six months ago, said he was overwhelmed by the praise.
He said: “I really had no idea that Gregg was down to do a review, I thought he was visiting just to see how one of the former MasterChef guys were getting along.
“He really never let on. But what can you say? It’s very flattering to get such high scores that you beat some incredible restaurants.
“The great thing is we took a gamble and went for the food I believed in, which is good honest local rustic food. It sounds like a bit of a cliché but it just happens to be the truth.”
The Olive review comes just weeks after The Guardian’s restaurant critic Matthew Norman awarded the eatery 9.5 out of 10.
He said: “All in all, this was one of the most pleasing meals I've eaten in years.”
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