Michelin praise for Alnwick restaurant serving up ‘culinary poetry’

A local fine dining restaurant is on course to enjoy another sparkling year after starting out 2025 with an entry in the Michelin Guide which praised its creation of what it called ‘culinary poetry’.

Sonnet in Alnwick, Northumberland, has made it into the prestigious guide this January – just 11 months after opening – and co-owner and chef Gary McDermott, who runs it with partner Claudia Mazareanu, is “blown away” by the news. And it’s no surprise he is waxing lyrical about what he calls ‘an incredible start to the year’ as they prepare to build upon Sonnet’s success.

Gary, who grew up in Sacriston in County Durham, and Claudia, originally from the Black Sea coast in Romania, met while working together in a busy hotel and they bonded over a love of food. As previously reported, the couple – having more than 20 years’ experience between them in the hospitality trade – opened Sonnet last February, with the aim of achieving the same kind of success they had previously enjoyed at Michelin-listed venues.

Here, they were out to compete against Northumberland Michelin star winners Pine and Hjem and their restaurant in Alnwick’s Bondgate certainly has been impressing diners with its 14-course tasting menu showcasing local producers such as Wilde Farm Estate in Ponteland and Hodgson Fish – all served up with the couple’s own stamp of warm hospitality and a touch of humour.

One course, for instance, is called Cheese What, which apparently was Claudia’s reaction to one of Gary’s dish inventions. And then there’s Elevenses, a reference to the fact that Gary’s gran and mam would always enjoy some home-baking and a cup of tea at 11am each day.

Within six months Sonnet was ranking on TripAdvisor as the top fine dining choice in the county. And it soon was impressing Michelin inspectors too who singled it out for inclusion in the guide among this month’s new entries: a final update before The Michelin Guide Award Ceremony – the annual biggie that gives out those coveted stars along with other awards – takes place in Glasgow on February 10.



Michelin praise for Alnwick restaurant serving up ‘culinary poetry’
Gary McDermott and Claudia Mazareanu who run Sonnet in Alnwick

No doubt Gary and Claudia will have fingers crossed but for now they could not be happier with the entry to the guide which said of the restaurant: “A sonnet is a 14-line poem, and so the culinary poetry here takes the form of 14 courses, each one crafted with real care by chef Gary McDermott.”

It called his partner Claudia “a natural host” and said they have created “a deeply personal restaurant” that pays plenty of attention to customers and has dishes that have stories attached, such as a mini apple pie using Gary’s gran’s puff pastry recipe and a lamb kebab inspired by Claudia’s heritage. It added: “The cooking blends classic French techniques with some well-balanced preserved elements. In an endearing touch that is typical of the place, dinner ends with ‘Elevenses’ for you to take home and enjoy the following morning.”

A delighted Gary said: “What an incredible start to the year! We are blown away to be in the January inspectors’ choice. We are so grateful for all our fantastic guests and our hard-working team that make our little restaurant great.’”

Sonnet is open Wednesday to Saturday. Besides its £95 tasting dinner menu, it also serves a six-course lunch for £40: to book see here. Find the full list of the new entries to the Michelin Guide here.

View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/michelin-praise-alnwick-restaurant-serving-30910620

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