Derbyshire’s Amalfi White scoops second AA Rosette
Derbyshire’s popular Amalfi White restaurant in Melbourne has bagged two AA Rosettes for culinary excellence. The accolade, awarded by AA Hotel and Restaurant Inspectors, recognises Amalfi White’s consistently high standards and focus on top quality seasonal ingredients from local suppliers. Amalfi White joins an elite selection of restaurants across the UK to hold a pair of AA Rosettes.
Amalfi White’s owner Elizabeth Devey Smith said: “We’re absolutely delighted – this is a real credit to our talented team, and to the excellent ingredients available from our local producers and suppliers.”
Head chef Matthew Clayton was a Masterchef: The Professionals contestant in 2016 and is the driving force behind the glamorous restaurant and wedding venue. Matthew grew up and trained in the Peak District and has built his career in some of the region’s finest establishments, having had ten years of AA Rosette and Michelin experience. A meticulous and inventive chef, he uses the best local ingredients and cooks with passion to create modern British food with contemporary cosmopolitan flair.
Matthew cooked for the Queen in 2011 and is now guiding the talented young team at Amalfi White to push a new concept in fine dining. He said: “We are taking classic cooking techniques and using striking new flavour combinations with a vibrancy not seen before in this region. New technology and methods are also giving us an opportunity to be more creative and have a bit more fun here at Amalfi White. Think of it as ‘Urban Fine Dining’ – we are a bit more rock and roll.”
Amalfi White’s menus showcase the best of Derbyshire with dishes such as yellow fin tuna, salt-baked beets, endive leaf, beetroot coral, baby pears and viola flowers; and spring lamb rack with hay and cider rolled belly, potato rosti, broad beans pistachio and parmesan crust. The signature dessert is the white chocolate fondant with chocolate aero and cranberry sorbet.
The AA award is just the start of the ambitions of this young team at Amalfi White and they hope to achieve more accolades soon. This latest recognition follows close on the heels of Masterchef 2016 and the inclusion in The Great British Cookbook.
