Jamie Oliver's praise is a fantastic start to my exciting year

Jamie Oliver has tipped me as one of the chefs to watch in 2014.

He very kindly featured me in the latest edition of his magazine, saying my eponymous new restaurant would be one of the highlights of the year.

He put me in esteemed company, mentioning my new venture as one of the UK's four most important new openings this year.

He included his own new restaurant, Jamie's Italian, which opens in Newcastle, so I suppose you could say I'm in his top three.

Jamie namechecked a new rotisserie and grill in Covent Garden, about which little is known, and a new restaurant being launched at London's Claridge's Hotel, from the double Michelin-starred Simon Rogan, who made his name at L'Enclume, in the Lake District.

Simon's a superlative chef. He's exceptionally creative and has many followers around the UK. I've eaten at his restaurants a number of times and I'm not surprised that people are getting so excited about his new venture in London.

Jamie put me alongside Simon on his list, saying people could look forward to the launch of my restaurant. I'm flattered. And I'm chuffed to bits that Jamie thinks highly of me.

All chefs get a little bit of a buzz when they see their name in lights – particularly when they receive praise from their peers.

As regular readers will know, I'm hoping to open my new place in Bridgnorth this spring and I'm spending lots of my time planning. Exciting times are ahead.

When a lot of chefs start out, they have two dreams – they want to achieve a Michelin star, that's the pinnacle for most chefs.

A Michelin star is a seal of approval and the definitive statement of quality. I was fortunate to achieve my first star before I reached 30.

The second dream that chefs harbour is to run their own restaurant. This year, I'm about to make that dream a reality. I'm really looking forward to putting my plans into action and I hope many of you will come and visit me when it opens.