Gareth Ward, head chef and co-owner of Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms near Machynlleth, has defended his team and insisted his kitchen is “spotless” after the restaurant received a food hygiene rating of one earlier this year.
In January, the establishment was awarded a score of one out of five by the Food Standards Agency, indicating “major improvement necessary”. A re-inspection followed in February, when Ynyshir was given a five out of five rating.
Chef speaks on documentary
Appearing on Apple TV's documentary series Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars, Ward said his team “go above and beyond everything to make what we do safe”.
“There's nothing in there that's amateurish. I run a spotless kitchen,” he said. “Whether you're a cafe, or a pub, or a two-Michelin-star restaurant. We've all got the same rules. But we go above and beyond everything to make what we do safe.”
He added: “I'm very proud of my whole team and my business and what we've achieved. It's obviously massive in the media, which anyone instantly jumps on and thinks it's about cleanliness. When something like this happens you're a bit blown away.”
History and accolades
Ynyshir made history in 2022 by becoming the first restaurant in Wales to earn two Michelin stars. It is known for its 30-course dinner experience, which takes up to four or five hours to enjoy and costs from £468 per head. The eatery was recently praised by Saturday Morning presenter James Martin, who called it the best restaurant “anywhere in the world”.
Following the inspection on November 5 last year, a spokesman for Ynyshir told WalesOnline the venue took the outcome “seriously” and explained that some of its “specialised” cooking methods “differ from conventional kitchen operations”. Shortly afterwards, Ward insisted he was “not embarrassed” and that the “place is immaculate”.
