Gastronomy Team of the Year competition launched

The Academy of Food & Wine (AFW) has announced the launch of a new competition designed to encourage kitchen and service professionals to work together more closely.

The 2009 Gastronomy Team of the Year is sponsored by Discover the Origin, a campaign that aims to promote five European products: Parma Ham, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Burgundy wines, Port and Douro Valley wines.

It is part financed with aid from the European Union, Portugal, France and Italy to flag-up products holding the Protected Destination of Origin (PDO) mark.

The competition is being supported by Peter Gordon, head chef of London's Providores and Tapa Room; Katie Caldesi, TV chef and author; Xavier Rousset, master sommelier and co-owner of Texture; and Gearoid Devaney, Academy of Food & Wine's UK Sommelier of the Year and head sommelier at Tom Aikens.

The competition will involve each chef and waiter team creating a two-course menu with matching wines from Discover the Origin PDO products.

Gastronomy Team of the Year will culminate in a ‘cook and serve' final on 27 July 2009 at Westminster Kingsway College, London, with the winning team receiving a 10-day trip courtesy of Discover the Origin to the three regions involved.

Sophie Roberts-Brown, AFW executive director, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for employers and managers to encourage their front and back of house brigades to work together, fostering good teamwork and a greater understanding between the two departments.".

Contact the Academy of Food & Wine 0n 020 8661 4646 for full details and an entry form or download one at www.afws.co.uk. The closing date for entries is 30 April 2009.

Heston Blumenthal's sommelier wins Dom Perignon award>>

Academy of Food & Wine names UK Sommelier of the Year>>

Restaurateurs must not aggressively up-sell wines to boost spend>>

Von Essen prepares to welcome the Acorns>>

By Chris Druce

E-mail your comments to Chris Druce here.

Caterersearch.com jobs
Looking for a new job? Find your next restaurant job here with Caterersearch.com jobs