Best Small Restaurant 2007

We're officially an award-winning restaurant. I have always dreamed of attending an award ceremony - the Oscars, Baftas - so an invite from the Nottingham Restaurant Awards threw me into my glamorous dream world of memorable speeches, gorgeous dresses, champagne and more champagne. Well the reality was pretty close to the dream apart from the speeches. I had prepared my acceptance speech - apologising for Stephane's absence, thanking everyone and anyone, wondering why recognition had taken so long coming, maybe a tear before kissing the award and taking my seat. Oh yes, I had always fancied myself as a Hollywood actress. However, The Restaurant Awards preferred to hand over quickly the prize with no opportunity to even say a very quick thank-you. I should have grabbed the microphone anyway.
If we win next year, I'll be ready. An award ceremony is not an award ceremony without speeches!
French Living - Best Small Restaurant 2007. We prefer to drop the small and declare ourselves best restaurant 2007. We deserve it. 13 years of hard graft, dedication and sticking to what we do best has finally been recognised by the people who hand out awards. As Stephane says, we have the best recognition of all in the loyalty of our customers so "Who needs an award?" In some ways I know he is right. We have never won anything before but we have always had a full restaurant, complimentary letters, smiling faces and loads of regulars. But I'm proud anyway. And I could dress up and pretend I was an actress at the Oscars for one night!