Finalists revealed for Annual Awards of Excellence 2012
The Awards, which aim to inspire and encourage young people to achieve the highest possible standards in their chosen profession, saw over 100 competitors take part in seven semi-finals across the UK. Heston Blumenthal is this year’s honorary president.
Candidates who successfully achieve the Award of Excellence will be invited to a Gala Presentation Dinner at which they will be presented with a certificate recognising their achievement and a chefs jacket (kitchen and pastry) or sommeliers apron (service).
The candidate who scores the highest mark in each section will also be awarded with prizes including a scholarship from the Savoy Educational Trust, Meyer cookware and Victorinox knives.
The finalists for the Annual Awards of Excellence are:
Kitchen finalists
- Aaron Potter, Trinity Restaurant
- Andrew Whitelaw, 1906 Restaurant
- Ben Howarth, Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons
- Charles McKenna, Turnberry Resort
- Danny Lee, Galvin La Chapelle
- Gareth Wayt, Opus Restaurant
- Ian Musgrave, The Ritz
- Jack Allibone, Simpsons Restaurant
- Josh Bingham, Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons
- Michael Hodges, The Ebury
- Simon Suffolk, White’s
- Thomas Swanborough, Wiltons
Pastry finalists
- Diana Sedlakovia, Chancery Court Hotel
- Gabriel Campino, London Hilton Park Lane
- Melissa Paul, William Curley
- Shaun Mason, Buckinham Palace
- Theresa Martinez, Sheraton Park Lane Hotel
Service finalists
- Charles Beaini, The Hand and Flowers
- Adam Willis, Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons
- Jonathan Whitemore, Ellenborough Park
- Michael Heine, The Waterside Inn
- Alexandre Keita, Kitchen W8
- Claire Ratcliffe, Le Gavroche
- Alexandre Sojfer, Le Gavroche
- Benjamin Debloos, Le Garvroche
- Romain Crozat, Galvin at Windows
- Stephanie Srey, Galvin at Windows
- Stuart McIvor, Galvin at Windows
- Robert Leatherbarrow, Park Restaurant
- Romain Maunier, Petrus
- Alessandro Dinato, Galvin la Chapelle
- Colett Becker, The Ritz
- Sabrina Gallo, Northcote Manor
- Galvin Jones, Clocktower Restaurant
- Joana Maria Pons Gari, Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles
- Matthew Busby, The Gleneagles Hotel
- Mhari Mutch, The Gleneagles Hotel
- Swayam Roka, The Gleneagles Hotel
- Grant Fleming, The Gleneagles Hotel
- Paul Reich, The Gleneagles Hotel
- Laura Kerr, The Gleneagles Hotel
The Kitchen and Pastry finals will take place at the University of West London on Wednesday 20 June and the Service finals will take place at Le Gavroche on Saturday 16 June and The Gleneagles Hotel on Monday 25 June.
