Marco Pierre White praises Birmingham dining scene

Celebrity chef Marco Pierre White has given some rare praise to Birmingham's food scene, saying standards have been transformed.

The news comes after The Times food critic Giles Coren claimed our restaurants offering was 'a bit rubbish', a claim we rebutted in the Guardian.

Hardened cynics might point out that Marco's kind words coincided with his recent book signing, held at his Birmingham Steakhouse, Bar and Grill at The Cube last week.

The event celebrated 25 years of his groundbreaking cookbook, 'White Heat'. Guests included Luke Tipping, executive chef director of Birmingham's Michelin-starred Simpsons restaurant.

Asked about the dining scene in Birmingham, Marco said:

"Back in the mid-80s, Birmingham was very industrial. The walls of the buildings were still black with soot. But Birmingham is quite cosmopolitan now.

"Over the past 35 years the standard has changed enormously."

We have taken a charitable view and are interpreting 'changed' as 'improved', given the context!

No longer "blackened with soot": Birmingham's squeaky-clean skyline behind Marco

Marco also stressed the importance of affordability:

"Make it affordable for every single person in Birmingham. Every person in Birmingham has a special occasion and every person in Birmingham wants that special night out. If you want to push the boat out, then buy that bottle of champagne or expensive bottle of wine."

Back at the age of 33, Marco was the youngest chef in the world to achieve three Michelin stars.

Now he's left the kitchen for the boardroom, heading up a fast-growing franchise of Steakhouses and New York Italian restaurants.

Marco currently has a Steakhouse, Bar and Grill in Birmingham and a New York Italian restaurant in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The Midlands will soon see another two restaurants landing, as Kenilworth and Leicester will each get a New York Italian in February.

For those who wish to purchase an anniversary edition of ‘White Heat', copies are available at the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse, Bar and Grill, Birmingham for £25

Author: ahmed