ESS chefs joined the Compass Group UK & Ireland team at this year’s International Salon Culinaire competition, part of the three-day Hotel, Restaurant & Catering show (HRC) at ExCeL London, held between 20-22nd March.
With more than 100 live and static challenges across three days, Salon Culinaire is an opportunity for chefs to test their skills and creativity in a competition environment.
The team competed in around 30 different competitions across the three elements: Salon Live – live cooking competitions; Salon Display – static exhibits; and Skills Theatre – live kitchen and service skills competitions for students.
Chefs from ESS dominated the gold award positions and particular congratulations go to Rachel Michie who won two golds and three special awards!
Congratulations to the following ESS chefs who picked up awards:
Archie Laing:
- Bronze - Butcher a Whole Chicken for Saute
- Merit - Lemon Sole Filleting
- Merit - Roll Shaping
Bailey Downing:
- Bronze - Butcher a Whole Chicken for Saute
- Merit - Lemon Sole Filleting
- Merit - Roll Shaping
Barry Fleming:
- Silver & Best in Class - Dessert Plates
Chris Hale:
- Merit - Starter Plates
Chris McLeod:
- Silver & Best in Class - Show or Presentation Platter
- Silver & Best in Class - Main Course Plates
Dougal MacPherson:
- Gold & Best in Class - Alaska Seafood Masters
Edward Perrett:
- Gold - Junior Starter Plates
- Silver & Best in Class - Junior Main Course Plates
- Silver - Butcher a Whole Chicken for Saute
Gordon Mackenzie:
- Bronze - Restaurant Fish Course
Izabela Ginter:
- Gold – Perfect Pasta
- Silver & Best in Class - The Mystery Basket Grand Prix
Jacob Banting:
- Silver - Butcher a Whole Chicken for Saute
- Merit - Knife Skills
- Merit - Lemon Sole Filleting
- Merit - Roll Shaping
Jim Sharples:
- Merit - Alsop and Walker Cheese Starter
Joe Timmons:
- Bronze - Junior Lamb
Lee Brooking:
- Silver - Tilda Chef Team of the Year
Marie Conn:
- Bronze - Plant or Arrangement
Matt Lord:
- Silver - Tilda Chef Team of the Year
Nathan Clark:
- Silver & Best in Class - The Mystery Basket Grand Prix
- Bronze - Show or Presentation Platter
- Bronze - Main Course Plates
Rachel Michie:
- Gold & Best in Class - Junior Starter Plates
- Gold & Best in Class - Junior Petits Fours
- Special Award - Best Restaurant Plate Exhibit
- Special Award - Best Pastry Exhibit
- Special Award - Best Junior Display Exhibit
Simon Coulter:
- Bronze - 3 Course Vegetarian or Plant Based Menu
- Silver - Restaurant Fish Course
Nick Vadis, Culinary Director at Compass Group UK and Ireland, said:
“I am very proud of our chefs and at competitions we see their talent, creativity and work shine bright. Our accolades have gone to our junior apprentices as well as more senior Exec chefs – demonstrating the importance of investing in our chef talent at all levels and the opportunities we create for them to progress and develop. Events like these are a great opportunity to challenge our chefs and for them to learn. A huge well done to everyone involved.”
