The Craft Guild of Chefs has announced that 36 young chefs will be heading to Brooklands College or Sheffield College next month to take part in the Graduate Awards southern, northern and pastry heats.
The Graduate Award is a practical and theory exam which is aimed at chefs aged under 25 who are looking to test their skills, put themselves in the spotlight and connect with like-minded peers. It provides opportunities for chefs to develop culinary expertise and opens doors into experiences such as Young National Chef of the Year. Over the last few months, the Guild has been inviting chefs to enter its well-respected exam and have now whittled the entries down to create three action-packed heats.
Those who make the final will be invited on a two-day mentoring trip in July. They will enjoy food themed experiences such as a visit to Daylesford Organics as well as learning more about the tests and challenges for the last exam which will take place on Wednesday 4th September.
Testing their skills in the southern heat at Brooklands College on Friday 14th June will be:
Alessio Sneider, Soho House 76 Dean Street
Rohin Geddes, The Royal Garden Hotel
Joel Barton, CORD by Le Cordon Bleu
Kai-le Tran, Royal Air Force Club
Nick Grant, Launceston Place
Madelaine Parr, Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa
Davina Rosemary Harman, BaxterStorey
Dominik Hornig, Whatley Manor Hotel & Spa
Charles Budgen, Gravetye Manor
Isabella Lake, Ugly Butterfly
Zoe Omorodion, Brooks’s
Inez Elfriede Roggema, Trivet
The chefs in the northern heat at Sheffield College on Tuesday 18th June are:
Angelo Vinci, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
Paolo Marinosci, Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London at The OWO
Harry Douglas-Brown, The Black Bull
Jamie Kennerley-Bradshaw, MOD Stafford
Bradley Stephens, Eagle and Child
Maizie Webster, Exclusive Chefs Academy - Fanhams Hall
Jason Cargill, The Rookery
Daniel Cox, Morston Hall
Megan Beale, Beckford Inn
Ross Boyd, Amuse by Kevin Dalgleish
Callum O'Grady, House of Commons
Thomas Aitken, Lainston House
Twelve pastry chefs have been invited to take part in the pastry exam at Brooklands College on Friday 14th June:
Oliver Jeffries, Church Street Tavern
Luke Watkins, Auberge du Lac
Catherine Ens, Launceston Place
Jessica McKechnie, Cameron House
Jessica May Erskine, House of Commons
Deimante Duobaite, The Silver Birch
Christi Myburgh, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
Ridhima Mhaiskar, The Dorchester
Frewen Velroy Rodrigues, InterContinental London Park Lane
Irene Magro, The Rosewood Hotel
Marta Martins, The Rosewood Hotel
Krishna Rajesh, Roe Restaurant
Founder of the Graduate Awards and Vice-President of the Craft Guild of Chefs, Steve Munkley said: “This year’s entrants gave us a difficult task as so many ambitious young chefs put themselves forward. The event has attracted chefs from some of the best establishments in the UK and it’s positive to see and hear about the support they will be getting from their employers as well as learn about their future goals. As we look ahead to the first exam, just one month from now, I would recommend those who have made it through spend time practising their skills. It’s not an easy exam, but the rewards and opportunities for those who achieve the final make it truly worthwhile and a valuable experience for all future careers.”
The Graduate Awards sponsors support this event to help the Craft Guild of Chefs to develop young culinary talent. This includes The London Meat Co, Oranka, Savoy Educational Trust, Reynolds, Meiko UK, Essential Cuisine, City and Guilds, Robert Welch, Villeroy & Boch, Continental Chef Supplies (CCS), James Knight of Mayfair, Worshipful Company of Cooks, CCE London Ltd, University of West London, Lakeland Dairies, Grande Cuisine, The Caterer, Maldon Salt, NOWAH, Wild Farmed, and Daregal Gourmet.
