THE Michelin guide says publicity surrounding a new celebrity chef at city centre venue Oddfellows is “misleading”.
A press release issued prior to Richard Phillips joining Oddfellows described him in the first line as “Michelin-starred”, even though he is not a current holder.
Oddfellows, who produced the literature in-house, points out the same release explained how Mr Phillips gained the coveted award in 2001 during his first year at Thackeray’s Restaurant in Kent.
It is accepted Mr Phillips, who appears on TV shows like Ready Steady Cook, failed to retain the Michelin star in subsequent years.
Paul Cordle, a spokesman for Michelin, which compiles the guide high class eating, said the publicity “is misleading”.
He would have preferred Mr Phillips to be referred to as the “former Michelin-starred chef” but no rules had been broken.
Mr Cordle said technically speaking the star related to the food on the plate rather than who cooked it.
A Michelin inspector told The Chronicle this was “not the first phone call” to be received over the issue in Chester.
Defending the publicity material, Oddfellows operations director Johan Scheepers said: “He had a Michelin star when he opened the restaurant Thackeray’s and within the first year he got a Michelin star so he has worked to Michelin star standards.”
Originally, Oddfellows had wanted to work with TV chef Gary Rhodes but Mr Scheepers said “the profile wasn’t right”.
He said Richard Phillips at Oddfellows had been “well received” and the new high street fronting restaurant was attracting more customers into the venue generally.
A spokesman for Mr Phillips did not wish to comment.
