Winners Announced - Grampian Chef and Restaurant of the Year 2011
The final of this year’s chefs competition took place on the 23rd of May at Aberdeen College. Thirty two of Aberdeen’s top chefs took part in a cook off to identify the winners from the 4 competition categories, Grampian Chef of the Year, Grampian Young Chef of the Year, Grampian Contract Chef of the Year, and Grampian Seafood Chef of the Year.
The panel of judges were, Kevin MacGillivray President of the Federation of Chefs Scotland, Joe Queen, Vice President of the Federation of Chefs Scotland, Stephen McLaughlin, Head Chef, Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, George McIvor – The Full Range Ltd, Ian MacDonald, Executive Chef, St Andrews Links, David Mutter, Darroch Learg Hotel, Ballater.
The judging of Grampian Restaurant of the Year took place in May. From an entry of 11 restaurants, 5 finalists were selected to be judged by means of an unannounced visit to the finalist’s restaurant. Karen Black, Hospitality Training said “it was a difficult task to keep the identity of the judge under wraps, however Bruce Sangster did a marvellous job and not one of the restaurant visited suspected he was there!”
Bruce is the proprietor of Sangster’s in Elie, Fife which was awarded one Michelin Star in 2009. Bruce is one of the UK’s most respected chefs winning British Chef of the Year in 2000. He said “Running a successful restaurant is no easy task; it takes commitment and dogged determination. But for every customer coming for lunch or dinner the expectation of the winner of Grampian Restaurant of the Year will be the same. Great food, value for money and a welcoming, friendly service at all times!”
The winner of Grampian Restaurant of the Year was the Dining Room at Meldrum House Hotel.
|The competition is organised by Hospitality Training, Scotland’s only industry specific Group Training Association. Karen Black, General Manager said, “The competition provides our sector with an opportunity to showcase the talent of chefs in Grampian. The competitors have been preparing for months for today’s cook off and we were most impressed with standard of dishes using locally sourced ingredients that were presented”.
The winner of the Grampian Chef of the Year Category was Alexandria Hay, Raemoir House Hotel. Her winning menu consisted of :
Scottish langoustines, squash, pear, spiced sambal
Veal fillet and liver, celeriac puree, wild garlic and pommes Elizabeth
Chocolate – mousse and brownie, honeycomb, yoghurt and passion fruit
The winning menu for the contract section was presented by Bruce Lawrence, Compass Group.
Pan-roasted hake with a herb crust, spring vegetable broth and crab tortellini
Rabbit roulade with fois gras, devilled kidney, pomme fondant, carrot mash, nettle and wild garlic royale with Madeira sauce
Rhubarb brulée crumble tart and lemon curd ice cream
Orry Shand Eat on the Green won the Young Chef Category:
Salmon mousse ravioli
Roast lamb loin and sweetbread
Dark chocolate ganache and crème fraiche mousse
Grampian Seafood Chef was won by Sam Ritchie, The Cock and Bull. His gold medal winning dish was:
Pan-seared halibut, confit Jersey Royals, pea, asparagus ribbons and pancetta lardons, broad beans and tartare sauce.
Joe Queen, Chairman of the panel said “Please keep up the hard work, effort, and passion to help deliver the quality customers expect”
The competition aims to forge strong links between chefs and local suppliers and producers. A key partner in the success of the competition is the Grampian food Forum. Among a prizes for the winners of Grampian Chef and Young chef is the opportunity to participate in the Taste of Grampian on the 5th of June 2010. The finals will be followed by an awards dinner at the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa.
Results – Grampian Chef of the Year 2011
1st Alexandria Hay, Raemoir House Hotel, Banchory
2ndKevin Shand, The Stage Door Restaurant, Aberdeen
3rdPeter Conlin, Meldrum House Hotel, Oldmeldrum
Runners Up:
Stacy Sullivan, Jaffs, Dunecht
Ian Simpson, The Glenkindie Arms, Alford
Addy Daggert, Glenfiddich Distillery Visitor Centre, Dufftown
Paul Mair, The Courtyard Restaurant, Aberdeen
Michael Middleton, The Cock and Bull, Balmedie
Results – Grampian Contract Chef of the Year 2011
1st Bruce Lawrence, Compass Group
2nd Yoram Odentz, Sodexo Remote Sites,Scotland Ltd
3rd Lauren Anderson, Eurest Services
Runners Up:
Paraic Faherty, Entier
David Morrison, Sodexo Remote Sites Scotland Ltd
Mark Weir, Sodexo Remote Sites Scotland Ltd
Calaum Brennan, Aberdeenshire Council
Brian Mutch, Baxter Storey
Results – Grampian Young Chef of the Year 2011
1st Orry Shand, Eat on the Green, Udny Green
2nd Kirsty Bruce, The Tufted Duck Hotel, St Combs
3rdGregg Williamson, La Stella, Aberdeen
Runners Up:
Andrew Clark, The Cock and Bull, Balmedie
Alex Henderson, The Tor-Na-Coille Hotel, Banchory
Jarret Jollivet, Restaurant Paula McEwen, Aberdeen
Calum Finlay, The Park Inn, Aberdeen
Yousef Shengheer, The Tor-Na-Coille Hotel, Banchory
Finalists – Grampian Seafood Chef of the Year 2011
Sam Ritchie, The Cock and Bull, Balmedie
Ross Cochrane,The Douglas Arms, Banchory
Runners Up:
Lewis Hewitt, La Stella, Aberdeen
James McMahon, Malmaison, Aberdeen
Joao de Oliveira, Malmaison, Aberdeen
Bob Miller, The Milton Restaurant, Crathes by Banchory
Nathan Hague, Douglas Arms, Banchory
Grampian Restaurant of the Year 2011
Winner – The Dining Room, Meldrum House Hotel, Old Meldrum
Runner Up – Restaurant Paula McEwen, Aberdeen
Main Sponsors
Federation of Chefs Scotland, G. McWilliam Aberdeen Ltd, Wild Tastes, Olive Garden/Entier, Granite PR, Keenan Recycling, Sodexo, The Full Range Ltd
Supported by:
Cock and Bull, Forsyth Produce Direct, Turriffs of Montrose, Aberdeen College, Search, Marcliffe Hotel and Spa, Mercure Ardoe House Hotel, Steelite, Forsyth Produce Direct
For More Information Contact:
Karen Black
Hospitality Training, Mob: 07834 151357