Two chefs from the north-east have taken gold in the Hospital Chefs Team Class at the 2010 Le Salon Culinaire International de Londres, which took place at Hotelympia last week.
Organised by the Hospital Caterers Association (HCA), the awards aim to give hospital chefs the opportunity to demonstrate their craft skills, unrestricted by the boundaries set by NHS recipes and menus.
Executive head chef Richard Kirton and chef Ian Cannon from the University Hospital of North Tees served a Gold-winning menu of herb crusted chicken on a bubble and squeak cake served with a crisp medley of winter vegetables followed by rhubarb and ginger cheesecake served with a tuille biscuit.
The judges awarded the hospital chef teams of two a total of eight awards – one Gold, one Silver and six Bronzes as well as two Certificates of Merit.
As winners of the Gold award, Kirton and Cannon automatically become the HCA’s Hospital Chefs of the Year. The winning duo said they were delighted to win the award, adding: “The success of all the contestants demonstrates just how skilled hospital chefs are and the huge emphasis that is being placed on preparing meals which are healthy and nutritious, include locally sourced ingredients and are tasty and beneficial to our patients.
Silver award winners were Michael Bowman and Mark Seales from Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, while Sharon Slaughter and Susan Mayhew from Aldeburgh and District Community Hospital in Suffolk took Bronze.
Finalists had to prepare a two course meal suitable for serving to NHS patients at a cost of no more than £1.90 per head for four covers.
HCA chairman Kevan Wallace said: “Hospital catering managers have not needed any convincing about the rising standards of craft skills amongst our front line chefs. The number of medals awarded is proof of their commitment, their passion and their ability to stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best of the chefs in the wider catering fraternity.”
Two more gold medals won in La Parade des Chefs >>
Salon Culinaire announces Best in Class winners and awards >>
La Parade des Chefs medal winners 2010 >>
By Janie Stamford
E-mail your comments to Janie Stamford here.
If you have something to say on this story or anything else join the debate at Table Talk - Caterer's new networking forum. Go to www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk
Caterersearch.com jobs
Looking for a new job? Find your next job here with Caterersearch.com jobs
|
|
Newsletters
For the latest hospitality news, sign up for our e-mail newsletters. | | |