Eight young chefs achieve the Graduate Award in 20th anniversary year
The Craft Guild of Chefs has revealed that five chefs have achieved its Kitchen award and three passed the Pastry exam in its 2022 Graduate awards.
The announcement was made at the 20th anniversary awards lunch at the Royal Lancaster hotel in London earlier this month in front of the finalists, examiners, sponsors, the media and industry friends.
Achieving the 2022 Kitchen award are:
- Alex Doyle, Marcus Belgravia
- Benjamin Mabley, Hartwell House Hotel and Spa
- Billy Etheridge, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
- Harry Donnelly, the RAF Club
- Jonathan Smith, Gravetye Manor
Achieving the 2022 Pastry exam:
- Ana Catarina Nogueira De Melo, Intercontinental Park Lane
- Miles Slater, Pennyhill Park Hotel and Spa
- Katrina Atienza, University of West London
The highest achiever in the Kitchen exam was Jonathan Smith and in the Pastry event Ana Catarina Nogueira De Melo. They will enjoy a trip to Lyon courtesy of Grande Cuisine, where they will visit the Paul Bocuse market, dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant and have a tour of the state-of-the-art Athanor factory.
All the chefs who achieved the award received a framed certificate from the Craft Guild of Chefs, an achievers' plate from Villeroy and Boch, a personalised tour of Fortnum & Mason with tea tasting, and opportunities for stages in one of many restaurants. All finalists received one year's membership to the Craft Guild of Chefs, a personalised Continental Chef Supplies (CCS) jacket and a Robert Welch chef's knife.
George Blogg from Gravetye Manor was revealed as the winner of the Kitchen Mentorship Award and Ben Christopherson, senior lecturer at the University of West London, received the same accolade in the Pastry exam.
Founder of the Graduate Awards and vice-president of the Craft Guild of Chefs Steve Munkley said: "I feel extremely proud to be celebrating 20 years of the Graduate Awards. We've not missed a single year since it started, despite the challenges the industry has faced during this time.
"One of the reasons it remains so successful is that every year we look at ways we can improve and update the event to reflect the needs of young chefs and the industry. I love following the careers of those who take part in the Graduate Awards and know from my work across the industry how valuable it is for a young chef to have this achievement on their CV. In a time when hospitality is struggling to attract and retain chefs and skills, it is vital to have events like this to celebrate, inspire and encourage young talent."
Guests at the event received a goody bag which included the 20th anniversary recipe book with dishes from more than 60 of the chefs who have achieved the Graduate Award since it was founded by Steve Munkley in 2002.
Top photo: Top row: Will Torrent, pastry chef mentor, Steve Munkley, Russell Bateman, kitchen mentor (outgoing) Middle row: Alex Doyle, Marcus Belgravia, Harry Donnelly, the RAF Club, Miles Slater, Pennyhill Park Hotel and Spa and Billy Etheridge, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons Bottom row: Benjamin Mabley, Hartwell House Hotel and Spa, Jonathan Smith, Gravetye Manor, Ana Catarina Nogueira De Melo, Intercontinental Park Lane and Katrina Atienza, University of West London
