AN underground fine-dining restaurant in Falmouth has been recognised for its culinary excellence and was recently presented with a prestigious award.
The Mulberry, which opened its doors to customers just last April has been awarded two AA rosettes, which are awarded for 'culinary excellence.'
Alongside other fine-dining restaurants in the town such as Restaurant Mine and Culture, Harry Cartwright, one of the owners of The Mulberry, says the recognition shows that Falmouth has one of the hottest new food scenes in Cornwall.
Explaining the award, Harry, one of two chefs at The Mulberry, told The Packet: "Three weeks ago they gave us a visit and really enjoyed it and gave us some really lovely feedback.
"They told us how impressed they were and how we'd be looking to move towards three rosettes in the future if we carried on the way we're going at the moment."
Restaurants that are signed up for the AA scheme can receive visits from anonymous reviewers who will, once they're finished dining, will announce themselves and give feedback.
Restaurants are then informed as to what score they are likely to get based on the reviewer's experience, with five rosettes - around the three Michelin star level - being the highest possible outcome.
"We're definitely looking to push to three rosettes next, I think five is a long way off, we'd have to invest in a lot more staff and equipment, but three rosettes I think is definitely achievable for us.
Originally from Hampshire, Harry has worked in international restaurants from Australia to Central America. He finds particular inspiration from Spanish and Mexican cuisine. Working for a year at the Ruin Beach cafe on the Isles of Scilly led him to eventually settle in Cornwall.
Hailing from Cornwall, Harry's business partner, Jay Brady, trained at the Nathan Outlaw Academy as a teenager. He spent two years at the Mariner’s in Rock upon graduating, before gaining a place at Outlaw’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Port Isaac.
Harry added: "The whole year and three months we've been open we've been improving every time we step in the kitchen. We've come on leaps and bounds and we're really enjoying pushing it further.
"The longer we're here the more local producers we're finding. The more connections we make the better our menu becomes."
Harry and his business partner Jay have never been head chefs before, and told The Packet that to be recognised in such a way on their first endeavor meant a lot.
Harry continued: "It's really pleasing, we would've been happy with one as a starting point, and to have achieved two on our first outing. To get the validation from such a high body that we're on the right path is really inspiring."
"We're pushing on further for the future.
"Falmouth just has such an amazing, growing food scene at the moment, with independent restaurants such as Restaurant Mine and Culture.
"I think the three of us are creating a real foodie destination here."
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