I hope you will forgive me for once again seeming to "blow my own trumpet" in my blogs. For the third time in as many weeks, I seem to be writing about the achievements of the team at Le Manoir, either past, present or even future (see last week's blog).

But I genuinely believe that we must all take the time to celebrate and to recognise achievement, and to encourage all those who make such wonderful efforts and contributions to a joint success. So, today in the Sunday Times, Le Manoir was voted No 6 in the Food List 2012. This is an outstanding achievement for Le Manoir, now in its 28th year at our home in Oxfordshire. An achievement for a fantastic team, made up of superb individuals, whom I respect and admire, and above all I trust! For it is all of our reputations that they hold.

So this is a small but heartfelt "Merci" to the teams at Le Manoir: to my Executive Head Chef, Gary Jones - one of the greatest chefs I know - who runs the kitchen at Le Manoir with style, enthusiasm, calm, professionalism and a passion for food and perfection which we truly share. He leads the team of fantastic chefs at Le Manoir.

Merci to my Chef Patissier and fellow Frenchman, Benoit Blin, as master in the art (and it is truly an art) of Pastry. He conjures magic not only from his ingredients, but also from the team he leads in our Pastry section. He has also led several teams of British patissiers to great success on the international stage.

And finally, a thank to our Director and General Manager, Philip Newman-Hall, and the outstanding team he leads, along with Gurval Durand, his deputy and Mourad Ben Tefka, our Restaurant Director...and too many others to mention. But the front of house team makes an invaluable and exceptional contribution to the experience of all the diners at Le Manoir: from the minute they arrive, to the moment they leave. As well as the food they are served, the wine that they drink, Philip and his team ensure that our guests are looked after, and respected, and that they feel a little of the special magic that is Le Manoir.

Let me finish by quoting from the many readers who voted for Le Manoir in The Sunday Times food list:

"“Exceptional in every way (including  the prices)”, Blanc’s “gorgeous” country retreat (“arrive early to wander around the gardens”) delivers what many consider to be “the UK’s finest dining experience” — with such “attention to detail”, it is “the destination for a special occasion”.

Thank you to every single one of the amazing team at Le Manoir, with all my heart,

Best

RB

PS Please tell me what you think of my blogs and my website: I want to hear from you!

The DVD of Raymond Blanc's hugely successful five part series - The Very Hungry Frenchman - broadcast on BBC2 earlier this year, is now on sale.

To purchase your copy from Amazon, please click on the link below:

www.amazon.co.uk/The-Very-Hungry-Frenchman-DVD

If you would like a signed copy of the DVD, this can be ordered via Le Manoir's website. Please click on the link below and request a signed copy in the 'special instructions' box at checkout:

www.manoir.com/gift_shop

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