CARTMEL'S L'enclume has retained its number 13 slot in the 2010 Good Food Guide's Top 50 Restaurants, while Windermere's Holbeck Ghyll has moved up one place to the number 23 position in the presitigious listing.

The guide, founded in 1951 and published by Which?, also has a number of new entries for Cumbria including Windermere's Miller Howe, The Brown Horse at Winster, Queen's Head Hotel at Troutbeck, and The Sun inn at Kirkby Lonsdale under the 'also recommended' heading.

Restaurants which have appeared consistently in the guide since their first entry include Sharrow Bay at Ullswater (49 years), Rothay Manor, Ambleside (41 years), and White Moss House, Grasmere (37 years).

Diners are advised to ‘stand by for thrilling innovation’ at L'enclume, where Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan conjures up amazing dishes like egg drop hot-and-sour soup in which 'noodles' are added at the table via a syringe loaded with duck egg treated to coagulate in the bowl.

The featured chef for the county is David McLaughlin from Holbeck Ghyll, who reveals he was inspired to become a chef after washing up in a restaurant kitchen in his school holidays.

Meanwhile, Miller Howe's listing means that new owner Martin Ainscough's huge refurbishment investment has paid off, while head chef Andrew Beaton can afford himself a pat on the back.

"The faded look of recent years has gone, food was really good," says the GFG.

Praise too for The Queen's Head, where ‘food is absolutely fabulous, using the best local produce’.

The Good Food Guide can be ordered on 01903-828557 (£16.99 p&p free) or at the website below, or purchased from local bookshops.