Dismay at British Olympic no-show
The British Culinary Olympics team's failure to take part in Le Salon Culinaire International de Londres caused widespread disappointment among judges, competitors and visitors to last week's Hotelympia exhibition.
Many claimed the official British team should have taken part, especially as the Culinary Olympics in Berlin are just seven months away.
Following the resignation of its captain, Michael Kitts, and a question-mark over funding, there is some doubt whether the British team will make the Olympics. A row is now brewing over whether a number of well-supported regional teams could compete internationally in its place.
The British team's absence at Hotelympia was highlighted by the presence of several international Olympic teams, including Team USA and the Malta national team, using La Parade des Chefs - the working competition kitchens at the show - and the display salon as a trial run for the forthcoming contest.
Geoff Wenman, director of the recently formed English Team of Chefs, told Caterer he was "flabbergasted" the British team did not compete, pointing out that the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland teams had all attended.
Believing that England was not being represented in the show's competitions, Mr Wenman recently renamed the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs team as the English Team of Chefs.
Ironically, Michael Kitts from Bristol's Swallow Royal Hotel, who controversially stepped down from captaining the British team last November, led the English Team of Chefs at Hotelympia.
"I think it's disgusting that the British team has not competed," said Mr Kitts. "How can we have a situation where our national team is not competing at Britain's largest catering show?"
Brian Cotterill, the British team manager, said he had not entered the team as Hotelympia was not approved by the regulatory body for the Olympics, the World Association of Cooks Societies (WACS).
"If it was WACS-approved it would have been good practice," said Mr Cotterill, president of the Chefs & Cooks Circle, the UK representative for WACS.
He stressed that the funds raised to take the team to the Olympics had to be used for that purpose. Sponsorship from W&P Foodservice and Rationale covers half of the £50,000 needed for the five-strong British team's trip to Berlin, and Mr Cotterill is confident the team will compete.
The 14-strong Scottish team already has £60,000 in its kitty, but WACS rules state that only one team can represent each country internationally at the Olympics. The Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland teams are restricted to competing at "regional" level.
Some chefs visiting Hotelympia said the British team was not truly representative, as its members were all England-based.
