A French restaurant in Cambridgeshire known for a signature dish has been recognised for culinary excellence. Amelie at Ben’s Yard in Ely has been awarded two AA Rosettes.
The long-established scheme celebrates successful cooking at restaurants across the UK. The AA says two Rosettes denote “Excellent restaurants that aim for and achieve higher standards and better consistency”.
They also represent a “greater precision apparent in the cooking” and “obvious attention to the selection of quality ingredients”.
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The restaurant is a newcomer to Ben’s Food Yard and says it aims to offer “freshly prepared, elegant but simple, Mediterranean-inspired dishes”, using seasonal and locally sourced produce. Its signature dish is flammekueche, a thin flatbread that resembles pizza.
Adapted from the classical dish of the Alsace, it is traditionally topped with crème fraiche, bacon, onions, and cheese. Amelie also serves up flammekueche with pulled pork belly, one with Colston Basset stilton & poached pear and another with mushroom and garlic butter.
Colston Bassett & pear flammekueche served at Amelie Restaurant in Ely -Credit:Amelie
Head chef Rory Landells said: “This award means so much. It not only acknowledges our creativity and hard work that goes into every plate but also our commitment to sourcing the freshest local produce that allows us to create delicious dishes full of seasonal flavours.”
Amelie was first opened by chef and restaurateur Regis Crepy and his son Alex in The Grafton, Cambridge to introduce flammekueche to the UK. It was named as the Good Food Guide’s 2024 only ‘Little Gem’ in Cambridgeshire.
They expanded the brand to Ben’s Yard in June 2024, with Amelie Café & Bake Shop opening alongside Amelie Restaurant. The Crepys also jointly own Blue Fig, a bistro-style restaurant in Bury St Edmunds.
Alex said: “Receiving two AA Rosettes is an amazing achievement particularly as we’ve not even been here at Ben’s Yard for a year. We are continually striving to provide a memorable dining experience for everyone and honoured that the AA has recognised our efforts.
“I’m so proud of the entire team – this award reflects their dedication and passion. I thank them and our wonderful customers too for all their support.”
Other dishes on the menu at Amelie include wild Scottish mackerel fillet with horseradish butter, chicory, avocado & Colston Bassett stilton salad.
Amelie is open daily serving breakfast from 9am, lunch from 11.30am-4pm and afternoon tea from 2.30-4.30pm, Mondays to Saturdays along with Sunday lunch. The restaurant is dog friendly and there is free parking.