Grande Bretagne – News Items

Bravo Remi.

The 2011 International Young Sommeliers Competition took place in Athens, Greece ON 16 September. The Judges reported that it was an excellent competition with the competitors from all countries being be congratulated on their performances. Remi Cousin from the Fat Duck at Bray, Berkshire represented GB.

Congratulations to Remi and to Isa Bal his Head Sommelier on the preparation work they did before the competition. It really helped ensure that the result was very close.

The results were First Place Ian Cauble, United States, Second Place Remi Cousin, Great Britain and Third Place Nicos Giannopoulos, Greece.

The very high standard of this event can be judged by the fact that the winner had very recently won the open title Best Sommelier in the United States. A great result for Remi who said that he had really enjoyed the whole experience of the competition and the camaraderie amongst the competitors.

The 2011 International Young Chefs Competition took place in Istanbul, Turkey. The Judges reported that it was an excellent competition with all the competitors from the 21 countries being be congratulated on their performances. Garrett Keown of The Bell Inn at Hordon on Hill, Essex represented GB.

Congratulations to Garrett and to Stuart Fay his Exec Chef on the preparation work they did before the competition. It really helped ensure that the result was very close.

The results were First Place Reilly Meehan, United States, Second Place Michael Dyllong, Germany and Third Place Jaime Rodriguez Camacho, Colombia.

Garrett said that he had really enjoyed the whole experience of the competition, the various visits in Istanbul and the camaraderie amongst the competitors. He said he felt that he had cooked well, but was aware that it was likely to be a very tightly run event.

A hat trick for the sommelier team from the Fat Duck in our 2011 Young Sommelier Competition finals. Bravo to winner Remi Cousins.

Garret Keown scoops Top Accolade as Chaîne des Rôtisseurs announces Winner of the 2011 Young Chef of the Year Awards

Read Clement Robert’s summary of the trip to Australia he made as part of the prize for winning the Bailliage de Grand Bretagne 2010 Young Sommelier Competition. Thanks to Pernod Ricard.

A good crowd of us from the Bailliage de Grande Bretagne were delighted to be in Helsinki this September for the World final of the Young Chef of the Year (YCC) competition. Bailli Délégué Philip Evins and Conseiller Culinaire Vic Laws, together with a great party from Yorkshire lead by Bailli Derek Wright, were all there to support our competitor Tom Spenceley. Tom works at the Swinton Park Hotel in Masham, was there to represent GB with contestants from 20 other countries. His trip began on the Tuesday 14 September when he met the rest of the contestants, many of whom could not speak English, and this started a camaraderie which, we are sure, will last for some time.

A win in Santander for Clement Robert of the Summer Lodge in Dorset

Photographs of this year’s Grand Chapitre are now available.

Thursday 3rd of June saw the 34th annual national final of the Chaîne International Young Chef of the Year Competition, held at the Gaggenau showroom in Central London.

L-R Philip Evins, Denis Drame, Thomas Spencerly, Helen Shaw, Anthony Marshall, Mickael Weïss, Vic Laws

The winner was announced as Thomas Spencerly (20) from Swinton Park, Masham, North Yorkshire, who cooks under head chef Simon Crannage. This was Thomas’ first time competing individually since leaving culinary college. From his unseen ‘market basket’ of ingredients, Thomas whipped up a 3 course feast of pan seared trout with lemon marinated asparagus and courgette, black pudding stuffed loin of pork with pea puree, fondant potatoes and a red wine jus, and a vanilla infused pannacotta with lemon, lime and ginger jam.

Runner up was Dale Chamberlain from Lainston House, Winchester and third place was awarded to Daniel Morgan from Latymers, Bagshot. Head judge Anthony Marshall, executive chef of the Hilton Park Lane and a previous Young Chef winner himself, said “it was extremely difficult to choose a winner and came down to a matter of two or three points between contestants. The standard was incredibly high for such young chefs.”

In 2010, British restaurants hold more Michelin stars than ever before, proving that the current enthusiasm for cooking has ushered in a golden age of gastronomy. The rise of TV chefs and cookery programmes means that today there is even greater interest and participation in the culinary arts. The Chaîne is keen to encourage and celebrate young professional chefs who will set future standards within the industry. “From a consumer point of view these competitions ensure the maintenance and growth of standards which make the whole restaurant experience more enjoyable, and for the chefs they can use them to enhance their careers and aspire to greater things” said Philip Evins, head of Chaîne des Rôtisseurs in the UK.

Thursday 27th May saw the 3rd annual national final of the GB finalof the International Young Sommelier Competition, held at the Gaggenau showroom in Central London.

The winner was announced as Clement Robert (24) from The Summer Lodge in Evershot, Dorset. Previously Head Sommelier at Hotel du Vin, Cambridge, Clement is now under the supervision of Eric Zwiebel, Head Sommelier of The Summer Lodge and previous runner-up in the World’s Best Sommelier competition. The panel of judges said all contestants demonstrated tremendous skill and precocious talent in their field. As well as the prestigious title of UK Young Sommelier of the Year, Clement received prizes from Riedel glassware and Gaggenau as well a trip to Australia to visit Pernod Ricard’s wineries. Second place in the competition was awarded to Erica Laler of Texture restaurant, London for the second year in a row and third was awarded to Loic Avril, the protégée of Isa Bal at the Fat Duck in Bray.