The Editor's Hospitality Blog

The AA's chief hotel and restaurant inspector, Peter Birnie, joined us at the first judging sessions of the Hotel Cateys at the Dorchester Hotel this week. I took the chance to pop out for a bite with him afterwards, to witness an inspection first hand.

We went to Rhodes W1, Gary Rhodes' new fine dining venture at the Cumberland Hotel. I loved
the restaurant's Kelly Hoppen-designed interiors - the crystal chandeliers that dominate reminded me a bit of Superman's ice palace in the Christopher Reeve movies. Our initial concerns that we had hit the restaurant on a quiet night were soon dispelled, as the place filled up steadily.

So, how does an AA inspector inspect? In short, with huge care and a huge attention to detail.

Today, Caterersearch launches Guide Girl, a blog that will debate the world of guidebooks and all that comes with them.

So if you're remotely interested in all things Michelin, AA, Good Food Guide, Harden's and much, much more, then look no further. Guide Girl will scour the globe for all you need to know.

Of course, this week all eyes are firmly on Michelin. In his first video interview since the Michelin Guide to Great Britain & Ireland 2009 was leaked last weekend, Derek Bulmer highlights this year's winners and losers. Check it out along with video interviews from some of this year's success stories - Claude Bosi of two-Michelin-starred Hibiscus, Angela Hartnett of the one-starred Murano and David Moore and Marcus Eaves of the one-starred L'Autre Pied.