A Smithdown Road restaurant has been featured in the newest edition of the coveted Michelin Guide.
The Michelin Guide has been in operation since 1900, collating the crème de la crème of the hospitality industry. Recognition in the guide, or the acquisition of one of its illustrious stars, can have a major impact on a restaurant's success and reputation.
Smithdown Road restaurant Belzan has been included in the February 2023 round-up of 'The Michelin inspectors' favourite new restaurants' ahead of the launch ceremony for the 2023 edition of the Michelin Guide.
READ MORE: Merseyside chef thought Curry Awards 2023 win was 'fake call'
The ceremony, held on March 27 at the famed Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire, will see all the newest Michelin Stars, Bib Gourmands and Green Stars revealed. Prior to this, a number of restaurants have been lauded by the team, including Belzan.
The charming and compact neighbourhood bistro and wine bar serves "humble dishes, inspired by places we've been and people we've met." The restaurant, which used to be a laundrette, first opened in 2018.
Founded by friends Owain Williams and Chris Edwards, Belzan's menu is subject to change; adapting and moving with the seasons. Some weeks, "nothing changes, other weeks three or four dishes might change, but what is always constant is the attention and care given to every ingredient and guest that comes through the door".
The team had their "suspicions" that Michelin Guide inspectors had visited them after spotting social media posts revealing they'd been in Liverpool. Belzan staff recalled one customer photographing their food, and making notes in a "little notepad".
Speaking to the ECHO, co-founder Chris Edwards, 35, said: "We didn't know it was happening but you have your suspicions when the Michelin inspectors come around - they do it covertly but you do get your suspicions with certain tables. The whole process is pretty secret, they don't really share how it's happening, but they do a few visits because they have to check for consistency.
"We'd seen a few months ago that they'd been in Liverpool on their social media and we'd seen someone come in with a little notepad, taking photos and making notes on what they'd eaten so we did think it could've been them. It was completely out of the blue when it happened, we didn't expect it."
The Michelin Guide didn't confirm the restaurant would make the cut, instead contacting the Belzan team to clarify and gather some information, and request pictures ahead of the February release.
Chris explained: "About two weeks ago, they said they were releasing some information about new restaurants and contacted us for some details and photos 'just in case', so we hoped we might be considered but we didn't know for sure.
"The restaurant industry is a pretty small industry and everyone knows each other, and Belzan has a particular ethos in the way it cooks that lends itself to what the Michelin guide values. We're all about championing local food and ingredients, and things people wouldn't try before.
"We make as much as we can ourselves on site, and if we can't make something on site for whatever reason then it's all about using local producers - it's key for us. Those are the things Michelin looks for and they fall within our ethos anyway, so nothing has really changed with the way Belzan cooks.
"Because of its location on Smithdown Road, [the restaurant] can be overlooked - it's an incredible, vibrant place to be and the community is brilliant but it can be tough to draw reviewers out to that area because we're not city centre so when we heard, we were happy we were doing something right."
Chris is hopeful the seal of approval from Michelin inspectors will lead to more custom for Belzan, and Liverpool as a whole. He continued: "It's amazing, everyone wants recognition from their industry peers and it's great - it just puts us on the map for foodies visiting the city.
"Liverpool has an amazing culinary scene but it is sometimes overshadowed by Leeds or Manchester, but I think that will change. I think the north in general is making huge leaps ahead to catch up with London - the producers and restaurants I know all look worldwide now, we all want to be able to compete on an international level.
"There's definitely an audience here that want that kind of food and we want to give it to them. This will hopefully introduce more people to us; we're only a small restaurant so word of mouth travels slow because we can only serve so many people a week but hopefully this will spread the word and reach more people. Hopefully it's another star in Liverpool's culinary crown."
The Belzan team are delighted with the recognition - though still keep their feet firmly on the ground. Chris said: "The staff are made up. The staff are really the main priority for us, it's their hard work that makes this happen.
"They have a little saying; 'Not bad for an ol' baggy on Smithdown', [in reference to when it used to be a laundrette] which is a really nice way of grounding themselves, and shows they don't need to be in Soho in London, or on the main street in Manchester.
"Their hard work and effort, time and consistency, can make an impression here - it's paid off massively for them. I think they've had three visits from the Michelin Guide to get in there and it's a high bar to live up to and it's been consistent.
"We want to stay consistent and shine a light on the food and producers we work with - there is more to see from Belzan and the Belzan team this year."
Belzan is based at 371 Smithdown Road, Liverpool, L15 3JJ. For more information, click here.
Get the top stories straight to your inbox by signing up to our what's on newsletter
READ NEXT:
