This year’s MICHELIN Guide Ceremony for Great Britain & Ireland took place in Glasgow’s majestic Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum on Monday, February 10. While there were no new Stars to boast about in Birmingham, the city can still celebrate its talented cooks. Particularly, Riverine Rabbit’s Ash Valenzuela-Heeger, who has won ‘Young Chef Award’ for her “vibrant cooking.”
After relocating from South Africa, and launching several pop-up kitchens around Birmingham, Ash opened Riverine Rabbit just over a year ago in Stirchley. Creating quite a buzz, the small plates menu heavily focuses on wild game and seafood, as well as offering substantial vegetarian options for plant-based guests – and it also ensures ingredients are sourced with sustainability in mind.
Ash, who has worked at The Test Kitchen in South Africa and Carters of Moseley, was described by the Michelin Guide as such: “After having opened Riverine Rabbit with her wife Erin to great acclaim, and received a Bib Gourmand this year, Ash Valenzuela-Heeger has been identified by the Inspectors as an exciting young talent.
“Ash’s cooking had been generating buzz in Brummie circles for some time thanks to various pop-ups, before the permanent opening of her inventive and invigorating restaurant which has further strengthened the brilliant Birmingham dining scene. Her original cooking is big on flavour and draws on influences from her native South Africa to across Asia.”
Riverine Rabbit also took home a Bib Gourmand distinction on the night. This is The MICHELIN Guide’s way of recognising restaurants that offer good value cooking. Head down on a Monday, especially, for an affordable Prix Fixe menu of four courses for £30 (with optional add-ons). Harborne’s Tropea also won a Bib Gourmand for its “uncluttered, straightforwardly delicious” Italian cooking.