1000 Votes Already Cast with a Fortnight Left to Decide Britain’s Best Chef Team

Voters now have until noon on the 27th June 2016 to vote in Essential Cuisine’s Britain’s Best Brigades and crown a regional chef team as the best in the UK.

With over 1000 votes already cast in Essential Cuisine’s nationwide search, the competition is now too close to call. Teams from Greater London; the South East; South West; Midlands; North West & Northern Ireland; the North East; Wales and Scotland, have each created a short video to showcase their kitchen camaraderie, togetherness and teamwork, and are now waiting to hear their fate.

Only one brigade can emerge victorious, claiming the title, £1000 cash and an exclusive menu development masterclass with a leading UK chef.

Those wanting to have their say should go to www.bestbrigades.co.uk, watch the eight finalist videos and crown a winner. Voting is open to everyone.

The finalists are:
Greater London – Nathan Outlaw at The Capital
The Michelin-starred restaurant Outlaw's at The Capital has been masterminded by Nathan Outlaw and Head Chef Tom Brown. They describe their kitchen environment as like playing a sport – the prep is the training, the warm up. Then the match is like the service. “You gear

up for it together and are all committed and working towards the same goal.” And no service is complete without a post-match pint.
Watch their video entry here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMKE04O9x3w

South East – Oakley Hall Hotel
A multi-national brigade serving the hotel’s 2 AA rosette fine dining restaurant, bringing menu ideas from across the globe and translating them into dishes made using highly local British produce. 2016 marks their second year in contention for the title.
Watch their video entry here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOQwURfSgwc

South West - Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa
This multi award-winning, 30-strong brigade is responsible for the three kitchens that service the luxury hotel and spa, including the Michelin-starred ‘Park’ restaurant. Group lunches and market visits are a regular fixture for this chef team with everyone encouraged to contribute ideas to both the management of the kitchens as well as the menus.
Watch their video entry here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=50qfMLfgkC0

Midlands – The Punchbowl in Lapworth
This country pub boasts a real log fire and oak beams but with a young kitchen team taking care of the menu, the food is anything but traditional. The brigade’s kitchen motto is “happy people + happy food = happy customers” and with such high morale, word of their cooking skill is beginning to spread.
Watch their video entry here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7-8vWGF_QE

North East – Darcy's Brasserie at Mosborough Hall Hotel
Combining the elegant grandeur of a stately manor house with contemporary interiors, Mosborough Hall boasts within its confines a family-like brigade who pull together to create local and seasonal delights. Just like a real family, each member, from the Head Chef to the Commis, is held in the same regard and everyone gets a say on the food.
Watch their video entry here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QZAzG9yKPw

North West & Northern Ireland – Hilton Manchester Deansgate
A hotel chef team focussed on quality British produce and the long-term development and education of its members, this Brigade keeps the guests at one of Manchester’s most iconic buildings coming back for more time and time again.
Watch their video entry here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUDzTX7IKOE

Wales – Gemelli
Gemelli is a watchword for fine dining in Newport and, with a menu full of local specialities, this brigade uses old world culinary techniques to their advantage. With the philosophy that “beauty lies in the simple things” the Gemelli team are set on offering their guests the ultimate dining experience.
Watch their video entry here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpBpHOuVVSs

Scotland –The Torridon
This highland brigade can call upon its own kitchen garden and onsite farm for some of the country’s finest produce. Respect for their surroundings, ingredients and each other means that the Torridon team relishes coming into work each day, and truly lives by the saying "one team, one dream".
Watch their video entry here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD16iVpK0ms

Nigel Crane, Managing Director for Essential Cuisine, says: “This is the last chance for the great British public to have their say so I urge people to go to www.bestbrigades.co.uk
and make their voices heard. We have eight fantastic sites, all worthy winners, but only one can take the spoils. Good luck to each brigade.”

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