Simonw

The Old Post Office is in new hands, a guy called Simon Kealey who was at the Walnut Tree when Franco was there. Definitely worth a try. Izakaya has been replaced by a bistro operation called Garcon which has a connection to the aforementioned Gallois.

It does depend on where you're heading. Saltmarsh lamb is indeed a must and you'll be hitting it at a good time too. There's great shellfish on the west coast but you'll need to almost grab it off the boat as so much of it heads for France and Spain...Aberaeron is a good place to be for that both in respect of the fishmongers "Fish on the Quay" and the restaurant of the Harbourmaster Hotel. I'd be looking for ultra-fresh mackerel and crab too. Welsh Black Beef can be excellent, but it varies hugely depending on its provenance. It's worth noting that there's more Welsh Black sold than is actually produced. Gower or Pembrokeshire new potatoes can be excellent. If you're going anywhere near Carmarthen you should stop at Albert Rees in Carmarthen Market and get some "Carmarthen Ham" which is air-dried. Less creamy and saltier than serrano for instance but delicious all the same and surprisingly good crisped up under the grill. They also make their own butter and fantastic bacon, all of which will require you to drink plenty of whatever your tipple is, you ought to at least rty laverbread which will have the same effect. Which brings us to beer - there are quite a few smallish Welsh brewers producing some good real ales. Again it it depends where you are going. If you can give more of an idea of your itinerary I'll try and be of more help. Do you want recommandations for eating out?

As you might imagine, Newport isn't blessed (I could stop there) with too many worthwhile places to eat. The one that stands head and shoulders above the rest is The Chandlery. It's just out of the centre but walking distance as I recall...77-78 Lower Dock Street 01633 256622.

The Trouble House just outside Tetbury. I went a few weeks back and it was great. You might struggle to get in this close to Easter Sunday though.

There are published criteria of sorts and you can find them in the front of the guide. There are a number of longstanding problems with the AA, which is a pity because the book remains a missed opportunity in my view. I edited it for a while and it was a continual struggle to try and improve the credibility of the guide and it's usefulness to the reader in the face of commercial pressures. There's a little piece on one of the bigger problems here http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2005...39;t+solved.htm

I don't think the GR book at that link is the promised GR autobiography. That's called Humble Pie and is due later in the year I believe. It's published by Harper Collins. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0...4227167-7317436

The first couple were definitely new shows, and I have a feeling that the Radio Times is showing these as "1/4", "2/4", or some other similar small number, which suggests that there may not be any re-visits. ← They're all new shows. The two to come being a cafe in Blackpool and a "Venetian" restaurant in Derby.

And Les Rennie had a star at Ynyshir Hall. I would have thought it's likely that the current incumbent there, Adam Simmonds will regain theirs this time around - He certainly merits it.