Photo: (L to R) Malcolm Harling - Williams Sales & Marketing Director; Cyrus Todiwala OBE DL - Café Spice Namaste; Tom Parker collecting the Young Chef Award; Craft Guild chairman Andrew Green.
Williams Refrigeration were proud sponsors of the 'Young Chef of the Year award' at the recent Craft Guild of Chefs Awards ceremony 2011 at the Westminster Park Plaza Hotel.
As the curtain fell on a glittering awards ceremony at the Westminster Park Plaza Hotel, the hospitality industry proved why the tagline for the evening, 'Bursting with Talent,' was more than the right choice. Glorious food accompanied a night to remember as the 2011 Craft Guild of Chefs Awards set to the task of rewarding and highlighting the tremendous amount of talent that exists within British kitchens today.
The awards paid tribute to chefs from across the industry, from those that work in village pubs and fine dining restaurants to those involved in university or contract catering, developing products for national retailers or feeding British soldiers. Famous faces, including among others, the Tanner brothers, Atul Kochhar and Theo Randall, were on hand to present the gongs. Leading industry representatives selected 40 chefs as finalists for the 15 prestigious awards, but there could only be one winner in each category.
The Craft Guild of Chefs Award winners 2011
Apprentice Chef Award
Rebecca Marshman, Hilton Park Lane Hotel
Banqueting Chef Award
David Summerell, Royal College of Physicians
Competition Chef Award
Mathew Shropshall, University College Birmingham
Contract Catering Chef Award
Robert Brown, Compass Group
Cost Sector Chef Award
Alan Baker-Green, Compass Group
Development Chef Award
Peter Joyner, Elior
Education Chef Award
Ian Jaundoo, Liverpool Community College
Ethnic Chef Award
Karunesh Khanna, Amaya
New Restaurant Award
Justin Sharp, Pea Porridge, Bury St Edmunds
Pastry Chef Award
Tal Hausen, The Lanesborough Hotel
Pub Restaurant Chef Award
Tim Bilton, The Butchers Arms, Holmfirth
Restaurant Chef Award
Lisa Allen, Northcote Manor
Young Chef Award
Tom Parker, Northcote Manor
For the first time, the Craft Guild of Chefs introduced the People's Choice Award, importantly voted for by those in the industry from a list of nominees. The award was devised to recognise one of the industry's unsung heroes, who has demonstrated real commitment to their job and deserves recognition. John Retallick, chairman of the Craft Guild of Chefs Vice Presidents' Council, claimed the award after over 1,000 votes were cast on the Guild's website.
The Special Award
Chosen by a committee of the Craft Guild of Chefs the most prestigious award of the night was presented to Philip Howard. A hugely respected figure on the restaurant scene, Philip has been cooking at the two Michelin-starred 'The Square' restaurant for over 20 years and received the award for his enormous contribution to the industry.
"It's a fantastic occasion to bring together top culinary talent," said Craft Guild vice president Steve Munkley. "The celebrations continued long into the night with everybody entering into the spirit of the evening."
For all the information and pictures following on from the glitz and the glamour of the craft Guild of Chefs Awards then visit http://www.craftguildofchefs.org/