ACADEMY OF CULINARY ARTS ANNUAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 2011 WINNERS PRESENTED AT CLARIDGE’S
The great and the good of the UK Hospitality Industry were out in force at a spectacular dinner at Claridge’s last night to celebrate the winners of the Academy of Culinary Arts’ 2011 Annual Awards of Excellence (AAE). Albert Roux OBE, Richard Shepherd CBE, Roy Ackerman CBE, Silvano Giraldin, Paul Heathcote MBE, Willy Bauer, Harry Murray MBE and Sir Garry Hawkes CBE were amongst those present at the awards ceremony. The evening was hosted by John Williams MBE, Chairman of the Academy of Culinary Arts and Sergio Rebecchi, Chairman of the AAE Service. Heston Blumenthal OBE, Honorary President of the AAE was on hand to help announce the three overall winners:
Academy of Culinary Arts Young Chef of the Year: DIMITAR ANGELKOVSKI, Turnberry Resort
Academy of Culinary Arts Young Pastry Chef of the Year: STEFAN HOWELLS, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
Academy of Culinary Arts Young Waiter of the Year: SAM WARD, The Ritz London
Prizes awarded to the three winners included silver trophies (donated by Gordon Hogg and Finclass), Meyer Cookware, Victorinox Knives, a trip to G.H.Mumm Champagne in Reims and a scholarship worth £2000 thanks to the generous support of the Savoy Educational Trust, which will this year take the form of a trip to Mexico with Visit Mexico. The three winners will also each spend a day’s work experience at The Fat Duck.
The Gala Dinner also celebrated the other 29 talented young chefs, pastry chefs and waiters who successfully achieved the Academy of Culinary Arts’ Annual Award of Excellence 2011, in Finals held in April.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS (In alphabetical order):
IN KITCHEN:
Dimitar Angelkovski, Turnberry Resort
Alastair Clayton, Galvin at Windows
Tessa Clingham, Galvin at Windows
Romain Fouquet, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
Ryan Murphy, Turnberry Resort
Jamie Randall, Galvin La Chapelle
Paul Reader, The Royal Household, Buckingham Palace
Adam Reid, Simon Radley at the Chester Grosvenor
Ewan Simpson, Claridge’s
Michael Tweedie, Lucknam Park Hotel
IN PASTRY:
Mike Cope, The Gleneagles Hotel
Paul Dickinson, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
Stefan Howells, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
Aminuddin Shaikh, Pennyhill Park Hotel and Spa
Glen Sharman, Pennyhill Park Hotel and Spa
IN SERVICE:
Sophie Alaimo, The Westbury Hotel
Houssem Belabed, The Gleneagles Hotel
Tina Diefenbach, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
Katie Lister, The Gleneagles Hotel
Johanna Marty, The Royal Automobile Club
Lucia Mottarella, Quirinale Restaurant
Rita Nagy, Turnberry Resort
Johanna Naumann, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
David Nicu-Catalin, Galvin Bistrot de Luxe
Wojciech Pastor, The Gleneagles Hotel
Caterina Petragallo, The Gleneagles Hotel
Joao Rocha, The Westbury Hotel
Carlota Santos, The Gleneagles Hotel
Louise Schmidt, The Gleneagles Hotel
Burak Sen, The Ritz London
Romain Taverne, Galvin at Windows
Sam Ward, The Ritz London
To achieve the award candidates had to attain a score of over 70% in the tasks set and judged by industry luminaries chaired by John Williams MBE, Executive Chef, The Ritz and Chairman of the Academy of Culinary Arts (see end for full list of judges).
Kitchen Finalists had 4.5 hours to produce a razor clam starter using ingredients from a mystery box; venison Wellington with fondant potatoes, glazed carrots, stuffed cabbage, celeriac puree and a red wine jus; and a modern interpretation of a lemon meringue dessert.
Pastry Finalists had 5 hours to produce an Easter themed centrepiece and petits fours including moulded chocolates, financiers and fruit tartlets.
Service Finalists were required to decant and describe wines to the judging panel and set up and serve a 3 course meal with wines and liqueurs to a table of 2 guest judges.
The Annual Awards of Excellence 2011 are sponsored by the National Skills Academy for Hospitality, City & Guilds, the Savoy Educational Trust, John Lewis, Maldon Salt, G.H.Mumm Champagne, Gressingham Foods, Allens of Mayfair and the Caterer & Hotelkeeper.
The Academy would like to thank General Manager Thomas Kochs and Claridge’s for hosting this year’s gala dinner event, as well as Executive Chef Martyn Nail for the sensational menu.
