ANNUAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 2012 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
The Academy of Culinary Arts is delighted to announce the Finalists of the Annual Awards of Excellence 2012. Following seven Semi-Finals around the UK, in which over 100 enthusiastic young chefs, pastry chefs and waiters competed, nearly 5o have successfully reached the standard of excellence required to go through to the Finals. They are:
KITCHEN FINALISTS
Aaron Potter
Trinity Restaurant
Andrew Whitelaw
1906 Restaurant
Ben Howarth
Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
Charles McKenna
Turnberry Resort
Danny Lee
Galvin La Chapelle
Gareth Wayt
Opus Restaurant
Ian Musgrave
The Ritz
Jack Allibone
Simpsons Restaurant
Josh Bingham
Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
Lorna McNee
Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles
Luke Selby
Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
Michael Hodges
The Ebury
Simon Suffolk
White's
Thomas Swanborough
Wiltons
Kitchen Semi-Final Tasks: In Kitchen Semi-Finals at the University of West London, Westminster Kingsway College, University College Birmingham, and The Cook School in Kilmarnock, candidates were required to undertake the following tasks: a 30 minute theory test; a skills test including making shortcrust pastry, poaching eggs, making a hollandaise sauce and preparing scallops; poached egg tartlets with hollandaise sauce; scallop ceviche and a scallop with risotto; panna cotta.
PASTRY FINALISTS
Chris Dodd
Ashdown Park Hotel
Diana Sedlakovia
Chancery Court Hotel
Gabriel Campino
London Hilton Park Lane
Melissa Paul
William Curley
Shaun Mason
Buckingham Palace
Theresa Martinez
Sheraton Park Lane Hotel
Pastry Semi-Final Tasks: In Pastry Semi-Finals at the University of West London candidates were required to produce pastries to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee; filled and unfilled scones; cheese soufflés.
SERVICE FINALISTS
Charles Beaini
The Hand and Flowers
Adam Willis
Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
Jonathan Whitemore
Ellenborough Park
Michael Heine
The Waterside Inn
Alexandre Keita
Kitchen W8
Claire Ratcliffe
Le Gavroche
Alexandre Sojfer
Le Gavroche
Benjamin Debloos
Le Gavroche
Kieran McLoughlin
Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
Romain Crozat
Galvin at Windows
Stephanie Srey
Galvin at Windows
Stuart McIvor
Galvin at Windows
Robert Leatherbarrow
Park Restaurant
Romain Maunier
Petrus
Alessandro Dinato
Galvin La Chapelle
Colett Becker
The Ritz
Sabrina Gallo
Northcote Manor
Gavin Jones
Clocktower Restaurant
Joana Maria Pons Gari
Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles
Eleanor Bristow
Northcote Manor
Matthew Busby
The Gleneagles Hotel
Mhari Mutch
The Gleneagles Hotel
Swayam Roka
The Gleneagles Hotel
Grant Fleming
The Gleneagles Hotel
Paul Reich
The Gleneagles Hotel
Laura Kerr
The Gleneagles Hotel
Service Semi-Final Tasks: In Service Semi-Finals at The Ritz, London and The Turnberry Resort, Scotland candidates were required to sit a one hour theory paper which tested their knowledge on a range of food and beverage service aspects and were interviewed by the judges about their establishments menu and wine list.
THE FINALS
Kitchen and Pastry Finals will take place at the University of West London on Wednesday 20th June 2012 and Service Finals will take place at Le Gavroche on Saturday 16th June and The Gleneagles Hotel on Monday 25th June.
PRIZES AND GALA PRESENTATION DINNER
Candidates who achieve the Award of Excellence will be invited to a Gala Presentation Dinner at which they will be presented with a certificate recognising their achievement, a chefs jacket (Kitchen and Pastry) or sommeliers apron (Service), thanks to Continental Chef Supplies and a
magnum of G.H.Mumm champagne. The candidate who scores the highest mark in each section (Kitchen/Pastry/Service) will be rewarded with prizes including a scholarship, thanks to the Savoy Educational Trust, Meyer cookware and Victorinox knives.
SPONSORS
The Academy of Culinary Arts is immeasurably grateful to the sponsors of the Annual Awards of Excellence 2012: John Lewis, The Savoy Educational Trust, The Maldon Crystal Salt Co, Gressingham Foods, City & Guilds, G.H.Mumm Champagne, James Knight of Mayfair, Speyside Glenlivet, Allens of Mayfair, Brancott Estateto media partner Caterer & Hotelkeeper; suppliers Chamberlains and Highland Spring; as well as Continental Chef Supplies, Meyer and Victorinox for providing prizes, without whose help, morally and financially, the awards would not be possible.
