Video: Elena Salvoni wins Lifetime Achievement Award at the Cateys

Elena Salvoni was one of the big winners at tonight's Cateys, picking up the Lifetime Achievement Award at the hospitality industry Oscars.

Now in her 90s, Salvoni - who also won the Manager of the Year Catey back in 1996 - has reluctantly retired from Elena's L'Etoile after a lifetime dedicated to restaurant service. However, she continues to be regarded as a beacon of great restaurant service by movers and shakers in the hospitality industry.

Her career has spanned nine decades, starting out aged 14 at Café Bleu in London's Soho before following restaurant manager Joseph Paccino to Bianchi's where she worked for 30 years. Aged 65, Salvoni tried to retire, but her talents were so much in demand that she continued to work for more than two decades, first at L'Escargot and finally at L'Etoile.

More than 1,000 senior decision-makers were witness to the occasion at London's Grosvenor House. They also saw Sara Jayne Stanes, director of the Academy of Culinary Arts, pick up the Special Award for her ongoing work to improve a sector she so clearly loves.

Elsewhere, Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons picked up two Cateys: the Hotel of the Year - Group award and the Manager of the Year Catey, which was awarded to its general manager Philip Newman-Hall.

The inaugural Health and Nutrition Catey went to the Hesley Group in recognition of its commitment to developing food that meets the growing demand for healthier, nutritional eating.

Meanwhile Brett Graham, chef-patron of the Ledbury and co-owner of the Harwood Arms in London, was awarded the prestigious Chef award, while his former mentor, Philip Howard, chef-patron of the Square and co-owner of the Michelin-starred Kitchen W8, won the Restaurateur Independent Catey.

VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE NIGHT ON TABLE TALK >>](http://www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk/media/cateys2011/default.aspx)

[ VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE NIGHT ON TABLE TALK >>](http://www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk/media/cateys2011/default.aspx) Cateys 2011: Full list of winners Best Group Marketing Campaign [Whitbread - Premier Inn](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339380/Cateys-2011-Best-Group-Marketing-Campaign-Whitbread-Premier.htm) Best Independent Marketing Campaign [The Academy of Food and Wine Service](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339367/cateys-2011-best-independent-marketing-campaign-the-academy-of-food-and-wine-service.htm) Best Use of Technology [Dolce](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339383/Cateys-2011-Best-Use-of-Technology-Award-Dolce.htm) Accessibility Award [Cringletie House Hotel](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/14/339355/Cateys-2011-Accessibility-Award-Cringletie-House.htm) Restaurateur of the Year - Group [Jonathan Kaye, chief executive officer, Prezzo](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339374/Cateys-2011-Restaurateur-of-the-Year-Group-Jonathan.htm) Restaurateur of the Year - Independent [Philip Howard, chef-patron of the Square and co-owner of Kitchen W8](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339382/Cateys-2011-Restaurateur-of-the-Year-Independent-Philip.htm) Sustainable Business Award [Red Hotels](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339373/Cateys-2011-Sustainable-Business-Award-Red-Hotels.htm) Education and Training Award [Alberto Crisci, founder/trustee, The Clink Charity](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339381/Cateys-2011-Education-and-Training-Award-Alberto.htm) Manager of the Year [Philip Newman-Hall, Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339357/Cateys-2011-Manager-of-the-Year-Philip-Newman-Hall.htm) Health and Nutrition Award [The Hesley Group](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339375/Cateys-2011-Health-and-Nutrition-Award-The-Hesley.htm) Menu of the Year [The Fox and Grapes](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339372/Cateys-2011-Menu-of-the-Year-the-Fox-and-Grapes.htm) Pub and Bar Award [The Garrison](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339368/Cateys-2011-Pub-and-Bar-Award-the-Garrison.htm) Hotel of the Year - Group [Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339376/Cateys-2011-Hotel-of-the-Year-Group-Le-Manoir-aux.htm) Hotel of the Year - Independent [Feversham Arms Hotel & Verbena Spa](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339366/Cateys-2011-Hotel-of-the-Year-Independent-the-Feversham-Arms-Hotel-amp-Verbena.htm) Newcomer Award [Castle Terrace](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339377/Cateys-2011-Newcomer-Award-Castle-Terrace.htm) Public Sector Caterer Award [Derek Johnson, principal catering manager, Leeds City Council](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339378/Cateys-2011-Public-Sector-Caterer-Award-Derek-Johnson.htm) Food Service Caterer Award [Phil Hooper, corporate affairs director, Sodexo](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/14/339340/cateys-2011-food-service-caterer-award-phil-hooper.htm) Chef Award [Brett Graham, chef-patron of the Ledbury and co-owner of the Harwood Arms](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339379/Cateys-2011-Chef-Award-Brett-Graham.htm) Special Award [Sara Jayne Stanes, director, Academy of Culinary Arts](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339384/Cateys-2011-Special-Award-Sara-Jayne-Stanes.htm) Lifetime Achievement Award [Elena Salvoni](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/07/15/339385/Cateys-2011-Lifetime-Achievement-Award-Elena-Salvoni.htm) By Kerstin Kühn E-mail your comments to [Kerstin Kühn](mailto:kerstin.kuhn@rbi.co.uk) 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](http://www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk) Caterersearch.com jobs Looking for a new job? Find your [next job here](http://www.caterersearch.com/jobs) with Caterersearch.com jobs

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