Today sees this year's three-day run of The Restaurant Show 2009 kick off, and with a line-up that includes some of the biggest chefs in the UK (and the world) participating in live debates, interviews and demonstrations, its one not to be missed.
Held at London’s Earls Court 2, the show today is jam-packed full of activity, with Tristan Welch, Simon Hulstone, Nic Watt and Marcus Eaves all demonstrating their chef skills on the Centre Stage throughout the day.
Cyrus Todiwala, chef/proprietor of Cafe Spice Namaste will be leading a team of Westminster Kingsway students in the show's onsite Signature restaurant, offering a respite from the buzzing activity of Earls Court 2.
Meanwhile, a foray of industry experts, including Claire Bosi of Hibiscus, Rowley Leigh of Le Café Anglais, Tom Aikens, Peter Harden and Charles Campion, will participate in a live, and most likely heated, debate on the impact a media review can have on a restaurant.
The highlight of the show today will no doubt be Restaurant magazine editor Paul Wootton’s live interview with Ferran Adria, chef/owner of the Best Restaurant in the World, El Bulli in Spain. Taking place on the Centre Stage at midday, the interview presents a one-off opportunity to see Adria talk about life as one of the highest regarded chefs in the world.
Throughout the day 16 Compass chefs will be battling it out in the Competition Theatre for their chance to secure the 2009 Compass Chef of the Year title, the winner of which will be announced later this afternoon.
Join BigHospitality as we speak to Marcus Eaves live from our stand situated at K30, where you'll have the opportunity to put your questions to the head chef of L'Autre Pied.
And to wrap up the first day of what is hotting up to be the best Restaurant Show so far are the National Restaurant Awards, where Britain’s top restaurateurs will gather to find out who will be crowned the Best Restaurant in the UK. Be sure to visit BigHospitality to find out who the winners are later this evening.
Don’t forget to join us throughout today, Tuesday and Wednesday for more live updates from the 2009 Restaurant Show.