Craft Guild names George Blogg as first Matt Campbell Extra Mile Award winner
Gravetye Manor's George Blogg has been named as the first winner of the Craft Guild's Matt Campbell Extra Mile Award in recognition of his work helping chefs to develop in their careers.
The award was set up following the tragic death of Campbell, who collapsed at the 22.5 mile mark on the London marathon. Campbell worked as a private chef in Cumbria and made it to the semi-finals of BBC Two's MasterChef: The Professionals last year, receiving widespread attention and praise from the judges for his dishes, many of which were vegan and focused on nutrition.
After anonymous judging for the National Chef of the Year competition, it was discovered Campbell had not only entered, but had also reached the top 40.
David Mulcahy, Sodexo's culinary director and the Craft Guild's competition director, went on to confirm the award will be held annually going forward, in recognition of Campbell's legacy and the charitable work done in his name. The award was handed over by Matt's brother Josh, who also supported the competitors throughout the day.
Blogg, head chef of Gravetye Manor, near East Grinstead, West Sussex, came second in the National Chef of the Year final in what was his first attempt at competitive cooking. The head chef told The Caterer he had decided to take part to help support younger chefs in his kitchen who wanted to take part in future competitions.
The overall decision rested with Gary Jones, executive head chef of Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, and was based on the principles and qualities of the chefs both in their competition work and in interviews in the run-up to the final.
Ahead of the competition, Jones said: "In recent years there has been a lot of discussion about creating positive environments in modern kitchens, and how senior chefs support the youngsters around them.
"It's vital that we work together to ensure we are truly nurturing the next generation to succeed in our industry.
"The National Chef of the Year is a key part of this mission with its long list of ambassadors, judges and competitors who always go the extra mile to develop their teams and steer the industry forward towards a sustainable future."
Blogg (left) is pictured with Jones.
