Birmingham restaurants Tropea and The Rabbit have been awarded Bib Gourmands, and The Rabbit owner Ash Valenzuela-Heeger has been awarded Young Chef of the Year, at last night's Michelin ceremony.

Tropea is the creation of Ben Robinson Young and Kasia Piatkowska, who met whilst studying Culinary Arts at the University College Birmingham in 2010. Inspired by a picturesque town on the Calabrian coast, Tropea’s (pronounced Tro-Pey-Ah) menu is heavily influenced by regional dishes made throughout Italy, with much of the produce sourced from the country.

Thanks to their recent extension, the kitchen space has doubled in size, allowing for new kitchen equipment that will enhance the Tropea experience. The menu will showcase dishes such as Beef carpaccio, Sicilian Arancino with butternut squash, Sardines ‘in soar’ on crostini and Sardinian fregola pasta with chilli and native mussels.

Spearheaded by Ash and Erin Valenzuela-Heeger, The Rabbit opened its doors in January 2024 and combines South African roots and flavours with seasonal British produce. The name is inspired by the Karoo Desert where the elusive riverine rabbit lives with a nod to Ash and Erin’s ongoing endeavour to support sustainable farming practices.

Since 1997, Michelin's best value for money restaurants have been pointed out using a special award: the Bib Gourmand. The price limit for Bib Gourmand consideration varies from country to country, depending on the cost of living, but the inspectors are searching for the same high quality, wherever they happen to be in the world.

For more information, visit: tropea.uk and riverinerabbit.co.uk