CityLife

10-course party for Juniper

ENJOYING 10 years of success in the notoriously fickle restaurant world is no mean feat - so Cheshire eaterie Juniper is making sure it celebrates its landmark birthday in style. Juniper, run by top chef Paul Kitching, remains the only restaurant in Greater Manchester with a Michelin star, the most prestigious of accolades.

So Paul, right, is starting a week of celebrations next month with an exclusive bash for industry VIPs, gourmands and his chef pals - bringing together a host of fellow Michelin-starred maestros from across the UK.

They include two Michelin-starred chef Claude Bosi of Hibiscus in Ludlow, Shropshire, Shaun Hill of former Michelin-starred Merchant House also in Ludlow, and Paul's fellow single Michelin-starred chefs Glynn Purnell of Jessica's in Birmingham, Sat Baines from Nottingham and Nigel Haworth of Northcote Manor in Lancashire.

There will also be two nights when the restaurant will open its doors to the public for a celebratory dinner of Paul's "menu favourites" over the years. The week's celebrations climax with a 10-course black tie dinner on Saturday, November 19.

But the menu's only certainty is a glass of champagne, after which diners will be asked to take a leap of faith as the following courses are detailed only as `Amuse', followed by a `A Surprise', `Definitely Scallops', `A Soup', `Trout and Caviar', `A Vegetable Ragout', `My Favourite Potato Dish', `Most Probably Beef', `Pre-Dessert', and a `Surprise Souffle'.

Paul tells me: "This will be the most important night of the last 10 years for Juniper but it is a real scary one too.

"I do have the main ingredient in mind, but have no idea whatsoever how these dishes will present themselves," he laughs. I'm sure diners won't mind the mystery too much as they take part in such a unique occasion. And while the parties will be a chance to toast the last 10 years, Paul tells me he is already looking ahead to the future - and the hope of building on his success with a second prestigious star.