The key facts

  • Ynyshir received a one-star hygiene rating in February; by August the council had restored five stars
  • Gareth Ward said in the Apple TV documentary that he 'runs an immaculate kitchen'
  • The restaurant had accused inspectors of not understanding its specialised procedures

Chef defends kitchen after inspection

Gareth Ward, chef and co-owner of the Ynyshir restaurant near Machynlleth in mid Wales, said in the Apple TV documentary series Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Starsthat he

runs an immaculate kitchen

and that there is nothing amateurabout his establishment. According to the BBC, the comment came after the restaurant received a one-star hygiene rating with an improvement notice in February, over concerns about raw and undercooked dishes. Ward admitted the rating was painful, because we strive to be the best , and added:

We did some things wrong, but we don't deserve everything we were accused of. We simply dare to be different

. What the inspection found and what changedInspectors from Ceredigion council rated food safety management and the cleanliness of the premises as requiring major improvement, while

, becausehygienic food handling
was rated

generally satisfactory

significant hazards
. The report mentioned a dirty floor, inadequate hand-washing facilities in some areas, and broken equipment posing a contamination risk. The council had previously ordered the restaurant to

stop serving raw lobster

had not been properly identified. Ynyshir at the timeaccused inspectors of not understanding its specialised proceduresand said biological tests, carried out at