THE Box Tree restaurant in Ilkley has maintained its coveted Michelin star in the latest edition of the epicure's bible - and owner Madame Helena Avis said this week she was delighted

"It is now the highest-rated restaurant in Yorkshire, scoring eight out of 10," she said.

Madame Avis puts the high-class Skipton Road restaurant's success partly down to the freshness and quality of ingredients.

Genetically modified ingredients are banned, all the vegetables used are organic and the provenance off all meat and fish is known to the last detail.

Madame Avis said: "There is no magic formula. It is scrupulous attention to detail but the reward justifies all the hard work."

And at 71 years of age, the Greek-born Ilkley resident said she had no plans to retire just yet.

"I enjoy doing what I do and I will carry on as long as I can keep up the standards," said Madame Avis.

And she added that she was anxious to dispel the myth that the Box Tree was as expensive as some people might think.

"There are two-course meals for £19.50, three-course meals for £25 and a wine list that ranges from £9 a bottle to £2,000," Madame Avis said.

The 100th Michelin Red Guide includes 12 two-star restaurants - none in Yorkshire - which is the same number as last year.

Nationally the UK now has just one restaurant worthy of the guide's coveted three stars: French chef Michael Roux's Waterside Inn at Bray, near Maidenhead, retains this rating for the 16th year.

The restaurant guide also provides good news for the Devonshire Fell Hotel and Bistro in Burnsall, which is sister hotel to the Devonshire Arms Hotel in Bolton Abbey.

It has been awarded the 'Bib Gourmand' a prestigious award given to restaurants offering less expensive food in less formal surroundings than the Michelin star hopefuls.

Managing director Jeremy Rata said: "The Devonshire Fell has only been open for six months so we are obviously delighted to receive such recognition so soon after opening."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.