The Editor's Hospitality Blog

Over the past eight weeks, 16 of the nation's top chefs have been battling each other for the right to cook at a homecoming banquet to honour men and women recently returned from active service in Afghanistan and their familes.

On Friday the final eight chefs were summonded to the judges chamber for the final time to find out who was going to cook at the banquet for the returning troops.

After a week of public voting, three of the judges top choices found out they were also the public's favourites. But Welsh chef, James Sommerin's poached chicken with pea ravioli and Caws Mynydd Du cheese starter lost out on the public vote to Kenny Atkinson.

The finalists and their dishes

Starter: Kenny Atkinson, (Seaham Hall, Seaham, Northumbria) Aberdeen Angus beef, carrots, horseradish and Shetland Black potatoes

Fish: Glynn Purnell, (Purnell's, Birmingham) marsala-spiced monkfish with red lentils, pickled carrots and coconut (check out Glynn's monkfish dish on Caterer)

Main: Nigel Haworth, (Northcote Manor, Blackburn) Lonk lamb Lancashire hot pot, pickled red cabbage, tangled garden carrots and leeks

Dessert: Shaun Rankin,  (Bohemia Bar & Restaurant, The Club Hotel & Spa, Jersey) treacle tart, Jersey clotted cream, raspberry ripple ice-cream

The feast will take place on Saturday 6 June at RAF Halton House.

Restaurateur Yasmina Siadatan and licensing development manager, Kate Walsh have survived the boardroom and will go head-to-head in the final of The Apprentice.

James McQuinnan was the first to be booted off the show, followed by Debra Barr and Lorraine Tighe after a round of interviews.

Tonight on The Apprentice it was interview time, where each of the five semi finalists are questioned over their CV and their application to the show.

Always known as the hardest challenge in the show, each contestant had no where to hide as their CV and even business reports were scrutanised but Sir Alan Sugar's business associates.

The contestants found the brutallity of the questions over their CV almost unbeliveable, but most held their nerve.

Despite having a good interview at the start, when one interviewer produced Yasmina's restaurant business report she was shocked and lost composure. He questioned her figures to which Yasmina struggled to explain. The main concern for Sir Alan was how someone already in business wanted to give away her freedom.

But when pitted against Debra, who was described as "ruthless" and "ambitious", Yasmina came through, despite Sir Alan's reservations for wanting to join his company.

Kate was described as "controlled" and "robotic", but Kate assured Sir Alan that she did have a personality but was there to do a job. Having always been successful in all the tasks, was certainly a positive for Sir Alan.

Great news for hospitality, but this could mean the industry losing a great business woman...

Last night the hospitality industry's Yasmina Siadatan beat finalist Kate Walsh to become Sir Alan Sugar's apprentice.

With both finalists leading teams tasked with each creating new chocolate brands from scratch, creating an advertising campaign and presenting to an audience of chocolate industry experts, the pressure was intense.

But 27-year old Yasmina's experience of running her own restaurant, Mya Lacarte, with her brother and managing the pressure and demands that come with it paid off.

Sir Alan Sugar even said it was the toughest final decision he'd ever had to make in the boardroom since The Apprentice began.

Of course, while we are delighted that Yasmina's publicly shown that the hospitality industry is the perfect environment to develop skills and make your mark, the sector will on-the-face-of-it be losing a talented restaureteur. 

Apprentice winner to work on Stansted hotel>>

Yasmina Siadatan and Kate Walsh make it to Sir Alan Sugar's The Apprentice final>>
 

Sally Clarke has been awarded an MBE in her 25th year in business.

In the year that marks a quarter of a century for Sally Clarke's Notting Hill restaurant, Clarke's, the renowned chef and restaurateur, who operates a delicatessen and bakery nextdoor to her restaurant, has been included in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2009 for her services to hospitality.

Clarke said: "Of course I feel incredibly honoured by this but it's not only for me it's for the staff, both past and present, who have worked alongside me and our loyal customers without whom Clarke's would not have become what it is today.  I am also immensely grateful for the loving support of my family throughout my career."

Delia Smith was also recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours and has been made a CBE.

Riccardo Semeria, a mixologist from the Connaught bar in London won the Galvin Cup competition this evening and walks away with a cheque for £1,500.

Riccardo saw off 33 other competitors from bars from across London and the UK, at the event held this year at the Dorchester hotel. Each contestant had to create a classic martini using sponsor, Belevedere vodka and also a creation of their own.

Riccardo's winning creation was a Royal Cobbler and consisted of Belvedere Black Raspberry, vermouth, lemon, basil and homemade spice soda.

Caroline Weiss from the Lobby Bar at One Aldwych came second while Gavin McGovan from St Alban bar came third. 

Speaking after the event, Riccardo said that he was shocked to have won, but thanked his team at the Connaught for the support they had given him, as he had only recently started to enter competitions.

Check out video highlights here

At a time of gloom and doom, it's always nice to focus on something a little more uplifting. Well if you work in the hotel sector, now's your chance! The deadline - 3 July - is looming for the 2009 Hotel Cateys so get your entries in fast.

To enter, simply go to www.hotelcateys.com and leave the hard work to the judges! Good luck.