A YOUNG creative culinary team has led the Millstone Inn and Brasserie at Anderton to winning the Bolton Evening News' Restaurant of the Year 2001.

The picturesque inn just beyond the Horwich boundary was chosen for the prestigious award by a panel of judges from the year's Eating Out weekly columns.

The judges felt the Millstone, which received top star ratings when it was reviewed, deserved the award for its winning combination of good food and efficient service in a pleasant atmosphere.

The venue offers "European" dishes. But, as head chef Matthew Rowntree explained, this really means "using the best of what is fresh, good quality and in season at any time."

He leads a team of three chefs, but there are around a dozen full and part-time staff dealing with the busy daily trade.

Licensee Andrea Lane is in charge of the restaurant and pub, which regularly seats around 80 but can take as many as 160 for wedding parties and other functions.

She, Matthew and the rest of the team all decide on the day's menu, which features "specials", in order to respond to their ethos of giving "simple dishes, cooked well."

In fact, the menu includes a pleasing variety like Crispy Roast Duck With a Rhubarb Sauce and Pan-fried Breast of Chicken with Goat Cheese and Fresh Basil.

Their efforts not only please owner Cesarino Stefanuto, but customers from all around the area and further afield who have made the Millstone their regular eating out choice.

The staff are delighted to win the BEN's top restaurant award -- as Andrea explains:"It's wonderful! It really means a lot to us."

Added Matthew:"It's great to have this kind of approval for what we do. We always try our best and enjoy pleasing customers, but having this kind of official recognition does make a difference."

And now -- for both the Millstone's staff and customers -- the handsome brass and mahogany plaque will proudly be displayed there as a testament to a restaurant which has discovered how to put success on the menu.