Alain Desenclos

We are delighted to announce that Alain Desenclos, Maître d’ of Le Manoir for 26 years, has accepted our invitation to be Chairman of the Judging Committee. Having been immersed in one of Europe’s finest restaurants for the majority of his career, we couldn’t have wished for a more qualified Chairman.

Alain will be ably assisted by a high profile group of individuals who will in turn be supported by a fantastic group of reviewers from across Oxfordshire, representing some of the counties leading businesses.

Dan Channer

Occupation: Letting Agent
Co-Reviewer: Lucy Channer
Lives: Oxford
Favourite Oxfordshire Restaurant and Why:
Cherwell Boathouse - the river / Old Parsonage - atmosphere and Jamal's - solid curry.
Favourite restaurant outside of Oxfordshire:
Any Ski restaurants at high altitude = pretentious I realize
Most memorable Oxfordshire restaurant experience:
Aziz phenomenal curry
What do you hope the Awards will do for Oxfordshire restaurants?
Being honest, Oxford's reputation for food is poor - we need the reality of 2011 to shine through.

Harry Carrier

Occupation: Management Consultant
Co-Reviewer: Nancy Carrier
Lives: Yarnton
Favourite Oxfordshire Restaurant and Why:
The White Horse, Fyfield - always good quality food, well presented and courtious and well trained staff.
Favourite restaurant outside of Oxfordshire:
The Fish Market, Hotel Continental Abu-Dhabi - fresh food, perfectly prepared and cooked and in a novel setting at the quayside.
Most memorable Oxfordshire restaurant experience:
As above.
What do you hope the Awards will do for Oxfordshire restaurants?
The whole process, assuming the reviews are favourable and it is a good way to popularise the restaurants.

Jacquie Bugeja

Occupation: Head up Oxforshire's Registration and Coroner's Service
Co-Reviewer: John Bugeja
Lives: Ascott under Wychwood
Favourite Oxfordshire Restaurant and Why:
Still making my mind up
Favourite restaurant outside of Oxfordshire:
I have two favourites. The Georgian restaurants in Harrods, London - the restaurant is beautiful, the service excellent and at lunchtimes, has a pianist playing. They also offer a buffet menu which offers a vast array of choices and guarantess my teenage boys come away full! / Polpo in Covent Gardens. The food is fabulous and very good value. The atmosphere is great too.
Most memorable Oxfordshire restaurant experience:
Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons - We went there to celebrate a special anniversary - very romantic!
What do you hope the Awards will do for Oxfordshire restaurants?
I'm sure it will expose some great restaurants that people have yet to discover. I am always interested to read restaurant reviews as these often encourage me to visit somewhere I would not have gone ordinarily. I hope our reviews will encourage others to try somewhere new.

Jo Willet

Occupation: Marketing and IC Development Director, Oxford Innovation
Co-Reviewer: Rob Stevens 
Lives: Oxford
Favourite Oxfordshire Restaurant and Why:
Big Bang – great local produce, quirky style, friendly owner and fantastic relaxed atmosphere – not a chain in sight!
Favourite restaurant outside of Oxfordshire:
Banyan, Ortakoy, Istanbul - Literally the most amazing view - right on the banks of Bosphorus River looking over to Asia, with "food for the soul" a delicious fusion of east and west.
Most memorable Oxfordshire restaurant experience:
Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons – I won a lunch there in a competition 10 years ago (when I couldn’t have afforded to eat there) and spent the whole afternoon being spoilt – fantastic day and food
What do you hope the Awards will do for Oxfordshire restaurants?
One of the things I love about Oxfordshire is the sheer number of great unique restaurants – we do have chains, but in the City and so many of the towns and villages we have those great ‘finds’ that in my mind you just don’t get everywhere!

John O'Brien

Occupation: Chartered Accountant
Co-Reviewer: Jane O'Brien  
Lives: North Oxford
Favourite Oxfordshire Restaurant and Why:
Pierre Victoire. Good value+good quality food served in a friendly+efficient environment.
Favourite restaurant outside of Oxfordshire:
Kinghams near Guilford: in a17th century cottage, superb food, cosy environment.
Most memorable Oxfordshire restaurant experience:
Gees, perfect for the anniversary celebration.
What do you hope the Awards will do for Oxfordshire restaurants?
Will stimulate interest, will give restaurants an advertising boost, will give recognition

Lesley Cowley OBE

Occupation: CEO Nominet
Co-Reviewer: TBA    
Lives: Wiltshire
Favourite Oxfordshire Restaurant and Why:
Le Manoir - Quality food and freshness of food.
Favourite restaurant outside of Oxfordshire:
Whatley Manor, Malmesbury Wilts. Great food & setting.
Most memorable Oxfordshire restaurant experience:
Le Manoir tasting menu - a rare treat!.
What do you hope the Awards will do for Oxfordshire restaurants?
Help me find somewhere new, with fresh good food at a reasonable price.

Mark Ritchie

Occupation: Publisher
Co-Reviewer: Liz Ritchie    
Lives: Oxford
Favourite Oxfordshire Restaurant and Why:
Ribierao da isla for their oysters in martini
Favourite restaurant outside of Oxfordshire:
La Sorbonne.
Most memorable Oxfordshire restaurant experience:
The Trout, Wolvercote.
What do you hope the Awards will do for Oxfordshire restaurants?
To raise standards across the county

Paddy Gregan

Occupation: Solicitor and partner with law firm BrookStreet des Roches LLP
Co-Reviewer: Mary Gregan    
Lives: Oxford
Favourite Oxfordshire Restaurant and Why:
Le Manoir aux Quatr' Saisons for the expectional level of cuisine, location, ambience and overall experience. A real special occasion place, with memories of great times for things like our sons 18th family dinner, our wedding anniversary.
Favourite restaurant outside of Oxfordshire:
L’auberge du Vieux Puits at Fontjoncouse (Aude) –the chef, Gilles Goujon’s signature poached egg ‘pourri’ (rotten egg, I think is the literal translation, but there’s nothing wrong with this dish!)  with black truffle infused yolk, his imaginative use of local produce and herbs and for its fabulous cheese chariot. He’s gone up through the gears of stars getting his 3rd Michelin star just last year.
Most memorable Oxfordshire restaurant experience:
Mary's birthday lunch 1998, Chavignol Restaurant, Chipping Norton; a fantastic Michelin-starred experience, sadly gone now!.
What do you hope the Awards will do for Oxfordshire restaurants?
Think that it will allow restaurants to really showcase what a fantastic range is on offer, and to demonstrate the high standards that exist for everyone to enjoy across a range of cuisine, styles and prices. To those who don’t join in, it will be a visible sign of what they have to shoot for to keep pace!.

Sandie Schofield

Occupation: Company Director- Own Company
Co-Reviewer:  David Quick    
Lives: Chipping Norton, Oxon
Favourite Oxfordshire Restaurant and Why:
Le Manoir - great food, warm, cosy and relaxed atmosphere. Excellent unobtrusive service.
Favourite restaurant outside of Oxfordshire:
ROSA Mexicano in New York. Fabulous frozen pomegranire margarhitas. Wonderful Mexican food in a lively fun environment.
Most memorable Oxfordshire restaurant experience:
Le Manoir Jan 2nd 2011. Having been many times beofre this was memorable as for my birthday and as it was just after New Year the restaurant/hotel twinkled with fairy lights and the log fire in the room and the christmas tree made it all so wonderful. Topped off by the tasting menu which was divine.
What do you hope the Awards will do for Oxfordshire restaurants?
Chipping Norton alone has one particularly good small restaurant probably not known outside of the villages and a brilliant pub serving food in very modern surroundings. Many of the villages/town have great eating places.

Sarah Wiseman

Occupation: Art Gallery Oxford
Co-Reviewer: an Oxford artist    
Lives: Abingdon
Favourite Oxfordshire Restaurant and Why:
Kazbar - atmosphere, style, fun and relaxed. Great food and service.
Favourite restaurant outside of Oxfordshire:
It Rains Fishes The Hague Netherlands - a seafood reastaurant - I am vegetarian and never been to a place that has gone so out of its way to create a special vegetarian dish; it is a complete delight. I have family in The Hague so go there regularly and the service is excellent.
Most memorable Oxfordshire restaurant experience:
Gee's Christmas - setting, food and service are excellent, it feels like a complete Oxford experience.
What do you hope the Awards will do for Oxfordshire restaurants?
I hope it will give visitors to Oxford more idea of the depth of what is available to explore in the city and the surrounding area.

Tom Parnell

Occupation: Design&Copywriting at D'Overbroeck's
Co-Reviewer: not always the same person!    
Lives: Oxford
Favourite Oxfordshire Restaurant and Why:
Jaimie's Italian-consistently delicious,varied menu, excellent value, inpressive ability to maintain high standards despite size!.
Favourite restaurant outside of Oxfordshire:
Textures Mayfair. A truly mind-and mouth-boggling experience: thousands of flavours masterfully combined. Pricey, though!.
Most memorable Oxfordshire restaurant experience:
Quail's eggs&champagne in front of a crackling open fire at the Old Parsonage-perfect combination of atmosphere and excellent food&drink, simply prepared.
What do you hope the Awards will do for Oxfordshire restaurants?
The Awards will give restaurants incentive to aim for the very highest standards and will stimulate increased competition for and recognition of excellence--to the advantage of customers and restauranteurs alike.

Alison Haill

Occupation: Communication Specialist
Co-Reviewer: Richard Haill    
Lives: Oxford
Favourite Oxfordshire Restaurant and Why:
The Old Bank, Oxford – the food is always good value but the atmosphere is lively, buzzy and bright.
Favourite restaurant outside of Oxfordshire:
Churrasceria in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Most memorable Oxfordshire restaurant experience:
Le Manoir at lunchtime.
What do you hope the Awards will do for Oxfordshire restaurants?
The awards are a great way for restaurants in Oxfordshire to realise where they are fantastic and where they let themselves down, in service for instance. I want people to rave about our restaurants for value and service!.

Richard Gorst

Occupation: Business manager St, Clare’s, Oxford
Co-Reviewer:    
Lives: Little Compton
Favourite Oxfordshire Restaurant and Why:
Chiang Mai Kitchen Oxford. Wonderful Thai food! You can have a selection of their delicious starters for a light lunch but don’t forget to order the garlic dumplings and butterfly prawns. Great location and atmosphere.
Favourite restaurant outside of Oxfordshire:
Ziani, Radnor Walk in Chelsea just off the King’s Road. Very small Italian restaurant.  You will need to book. Small tables so not much space. Great Italian food and very Italian service. I love this place.
Most memorable Oxfordshire restaurant experience:

What do you hope the Awards will do for Oxfordshire restaurants?
What will the awards do? Help Oxfordshire restaurants to build their reputations and custom and Oxfordshire folk to discover delicious new places to eat.

Sally Dicketts

Occupation: Principal of OCVC
Co-Reviewer:    
Lives: Oxford
Favourite Oxfordshire Restaurant and Why:
Loch Fyne for consistency of food, value for money and good service.
Favourite restaurant outside of Oxfordshire:
A small restaurant on the Lake at Annecy in France.  The food was amazing, wine superb and the venue was also stunning.  An old mansion overlooking the lake.
Most memorable Oxfordshire restaurant experience:
Le Manoir, was taken there for dinner.  It was a fantastic meal in a wonderful place with the most attentive service.
What do you hope the Awards will do for Oxfordshire restaurants?
To encourage more people to think about their dining experience and thereby raise the standards of service and food for all of us in Oxfordshire.