The Michelin-starred Northcote restaurant in the Ribble Valley has hit back after a former diner called pictures of chefs licking plates at a recent food festival event ‘uncouth’. He also warned future visitors ‘to ask if your plates were washed in hot water before eating’, reports LancsLive.
The diner, who ate at the restaurant last year, had spotted pictures posted to Facebook in which Great British Menu chef Hrishikesh Desai is seen licking a plate during its annual ‘Obsession’ festival, where chefs are invited to cook at the upscale hotel restaurant.
“Chefs licking plates is uncouth, it appears Obsession at Northcoate [sic] is a self-indulgent booze up for chefs, very disappointing to watch this on their Facebook, a lack of professionalism," the diner, named John M, wrote.
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A reply from the restaurant to the diner’s comments - restaurants are allowed to respond to reviews on the site - then appeared to tag it with the same pictures, a move which the diner called ‘bizarre behaviour’, before accusing managers of having ‘lost the plot’.
“I have veiwed my nice review which I gave previously only to find northcote has put pictures of uncouth chefs licking their plates (filthy habit) beside the photos of food that I put on, this is bizarre behaviour and I would be grateful for an explanation from northcote or trip advisor, I have taken the photos to put on other social media sites including news sites if there is no response from northcote and trip advisor, my advice to customers at northcote is to ask if your plates were washed in hot water before eating [sic],” the diner said.
Restaurant managing director Craig Bancroft replied: “We are very sorry if you felt offended by the photographs from our obsession festival, this certainly wasn't our intention. These photographs were ‘a spirit of the moment' of guests enjoying their evening and having fun.
“I can assure you all our tableware is dishwasher washed and polished as you would expect.”
The restaurant and hotel’s annual Obsession festival took place earlier this year, with executive chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen cooking alongside a host of world famous chefs, including Masterchef judge Monica Galetti.
Previous guest chefs have included the likes of Simon Rogan, James Martin and Tom Kerridge. The restaurant has held its Michelin star for 26 years, with Goodwin-Allen having worked there since 2001.
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