News

Tony Cox has recently assumed the mantle of Acting Bailli Régional and is currently planning future London City Bailliage events.

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.

Tom Spenceley of Swinton Park, Masham, is the winner of the 2010 UK Young Rotisseur Chef Competition.

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.

Our Echanson, Gerard Basset, is the winner of the World Sommelier Championships held this year in Santiago, Chile. Bravo Gerard !

Congratulations to Solent Bailliage’s Vice-Conseiller Culinaire Giles Thompson and all at The Earl of March for winning the Restaurant of the Year category at the Chichester Observer Business Awards.

Frances Griffiths appointed Chargé de Missions (ACCR) to co-ordinate GB’s support for the Chaîne’s worldwide Charity program.

Chaîne Lunch 18th March 2010

Yohann Jousselin from the Hotel du Vin in Winchester named Master Sommelier

The 2010 programme is now available on the Solent Bailliage web site. Note that this includes events that do not yet appear on the national web site as exact dates have not yet been arranged.