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.

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By Chris Druce

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