Leading chef association Craft Guild of Chefs count down to one of its biggest and prestigious events of the year. The 26th annual awards will take place tomorrow, Thursday 6th June at the London Hilton on Park Lane.
Andrew Bennett, chairman of the Craft Guild of Chefs said:
“As the leading chefs’ organisation, we acknowledge remarkable talent across the UK and beyond, and applaud the work our chefs do. Whether they work in public sector catering, pubs or restaurants. We look forward to an evening of celebrating culinary excellence.
Every year it is a challenging process for our judges to choose from so many impressive award entries. Each of the finalists on this years’ shortlist proved to represent a unique set of culinary talents.”
A total of 17 awards will be presented on the night, including awards such as restaurant chef, apprentice chef, new restaurant of the year and pub restaurant chef. 16 awards have been judged and shortlisted. The innovation award which will be voted for by the guests and the winner announced on the night. The prestigious special award, which is reserved for someone who the Craft Guild of Chefs believes has made an outstanding contribution to the industry will also be announced during the awards ceremony.
Previous winners of Craft Guild of Chefs awards include Marco Pierre White, Michel and Albert Roux, Alain Ducasse and James Martin.
Alain Ducasse, who was crowned last year’s International Chef of the Year said:
“The Craft Guild of Chefs is one of the most brilliant clusters of British professionals working tirelessly for the promotion of our industry, recognising key figures and celebrating emerging as well as well-established talents through their Awards. I was deeply honoured to receive the inaugural International Chef of the Year Award last year for the 25th Anniversary of the guild.”
The new restaurant of the year award shortlist was developed from significant new restaurant openings in 2018 and required no public nomination, with suggestions being made from within the industry. Each of the restaurants was visited and dined at by a team of expert judges who were responsible for deciding the finalists, judging each restaurant on the quality of food, service and experience.
Tom Brown at Cornerstone, Tomos Parry at Brat restaurant and Alex Bond at Alchemilla restaurant have been expertly selected from an impressive list of quality restaurants across the UK and recognised for their outstanding level of food and service.
Clare Smyth, winner of New Restaurant of the Year award 2018 for her restaurant Core by Clare Smyth (pictured left) comments:
“One of the many goals of the guild is to work within our industry to increase the standards of professional cooking through education and training which is something I am also very passionate about. At Core, my team and I strive to continuously learn and expand our knowledge and skills, so we continue to improve and take things to the next level.”
Smyth adds, “Our team was delighted to receive the award recognising our hard work and dedication in the first year of Core. It is always amazing to be recognised by others within the industry as they know what it takes to succeed.”
This year, the Craft Guild of Chefs also introduces a brand-new award, Chef’s Favourite Branded Group. Voted for by Craft Guild of Chefs members and other professional chefs, the prestigious new award will seek to recognise restaurant groups demonstrating; food quality and consistency, and a menu with variety and originality accompanied by a suitable wine menu. Additionally, its restaurant design, ambience and service quality should be consistent, memorable and beyond excellent.
A key focus for the Craft Guild of Chefs is its rising stars. The Apprentice Chef award recognises chefs with outstanding progress and key achievements whilst doing an apprenticeship scheme. John Howarth, the winner of last years’ award said:
“For me, this is an industry which can at times seem rather disconnected, and as a young chef I’m very conscious of not becoming disengaged from the larger picture; The Craft Guild of Chefs is that focal point which draws the nation’s culinary scene back into focus. From my first days as an apprentice chef, recognition from the Guild has been the pinnacle of achievement, and receiving the award was a truly humbling reminder that this is an industry filled with encouragement and support. It’s like that senior chef you admire and respect the most saying to you ‘you’re doing a great job, keep it up’.”
All finalists of the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards will be given a complimentary ticket to attend this year’s Craft Guild of Chefs, Universal Cookery and Food Festival (UCFF). The industries most unique annual event will take place on Tuesday 25th June 2019 at Farrington Oils in Northamptonshire.
The Craft Guild of Chefs Awards will be presented at the prestigious ceremony at London Hilton, Park Lane, tomorrow Thursday 6th June 2019. 750 professionals and industry luminaries are expected to attend.
The full list of finalists below:
Apprentice
Chef Award
Ethan Cleary, The Portsmouth Marriott Hotel
Patrycia Gora, Sodexo
Paige Hill, Royal Garden Hotel
Ben Jacob, Gatwick Airport
Armed
Services Chef Award
Christopher Beavis, Royal Air Force
Angus Campbell, Royal Logistics Corps
Cpl David Davey-Smith, Royal Air Force
Stephen Stokoe, Royal Navy
Banqueting
and Event Chef Award
Gemma Amor, Sodexo, Ascot Racecourse
Brian Canale, Heritage Portfolio
Tom Parry, Levy UK
Chef
Lecturer Award
Gregg Brown, University of West London
Andrea Ruff, The Claire Clarke Academy
Len Unwin, The Sheffield College
Chef’s
Favourite Branded Restaurant
Bills Restaurants
Cote Brasserie
Franco Manca
Leon Restaurants
Miller & Carter
Wagamama
Yo! Sushi
Competition
Chef Award
Cpl Ian Mark, Royal Air Force
Cpl Stefan Sewell, Royal Air Force
Graham Singer, ESS Support Services Worldwide
Contract
Catering Chef Award
Paul Connolly, Amadeus
James Larkins, Compass Group
Adam Thomason, Restaurant Associates
Development
Chef Award
David Humphreys, Tillery Valley Foods
Danny Silcock, Brakes
Laurence Tottingham, Oliver Kay, part of Bidfresh
Innovation
Award
Will Bowlby, Kricket
Andrew Clarke, St Leonards Restaurant
Andrew Wong, Kyms Restaurant
New
Restaurant of the Year Award
Alex Bond, Alchemilla Restaurant
Tom Brown, Cornerstone
Tomos Parry, Brat Restaurant
Pastry
Chef Award
Martin Dockett, Rhockett
Clarisse Flon, Cafe Forty One
Sarah Frankland, Penny Hill Park Hotel
People’s
Choice Award
Murray Chapman, First Contact Chefs
David Croft, Ex Chef, Disability Campaigner and Author
Scott Whiteing, Genuine Dining Company
Pub
Restaurant Chef Award
Leigh Evans, Methuen Arms
Robert Taylor, The Compasses Inn
Dave Wall, The Unruly Pig
Public
Sector Chef Award
Steven Cross, Park Community School
Ryan Hopper, ESS Defence
Restaurant
Chef Award
Jean-Philippe Blondet, Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester
Pascal Canevet, La Maison Bleue
Kuba Winkowski, The Feathered Nest Country Inn
Young
Chef Award
Rick Owens, Le Manoir aux quat’Saisons
Thomas Pill, Farnham Castle
Hannah Williams, Genuine Dining Company
The Craft Guild of Chefs will present the Special Award during the awards ceremony.
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