The event comprises the categories of kitchen, pastry, and service, with each young professional candidate having taken part in one of seven semi-finals to achieve the last stage.
The AAE award will be given to any of the candidates who achieve the necessary standard in their respective category.
The successful individuals will then invited to a gala dinner at London’s Claridge’s hotel on 12 July, at which they will receive their prizes – either a chef’s jacket for those taking part in the kitchen and pastry contests, and a lapel pin for service. Each will also receive a magnum of Laurent-Perrier Champagne, and a certificate.
There will also be awards for those who achieve the highest standard in their section; a scholarship from the Savoy Educational Trust, a silver trophy, cookware and knives from Meyer and MAC respectively, and one day’s stage at Heston Blumenthal’s three-Michelin starred flagship restaurants the Fat Duck in Bray.
As with every year, the 2016 finalists come from prestigious establishments across the UK such as Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, The Ritz hotel, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, the Langham hotel, Yauatcha, Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, L’Enclume, Northcote Manor, and Pétrus.
Launched in 1983, the award has been given to over 500 young people across the years. Last year there were 47 finalists.
2016 Annual Awards of Excellence finalists:
Kitchen:
- Michael Clark Pompadour by Galvin
- Jack Croft Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
- Alex Dome Petersham Nurseries
- Joel Gueller Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
- Ruth Hansom The Ritz London
- Edward Marsh Lucknam Park Hotel
- Adam McKinnon-Brahams The Ritz London
- Samuel Nash L'Enclume
- Alex Proudman Bistro Union
- Hugo Vernochet Alfred's
- Peter Webster Beagle Restaurant
Pastry:
- Hannah Bagshaw Hakkasan
- Polly Chan Yauatcha
- Ethan Flack Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
- Irish Hacon The Langham Hotel
- Corrine Jones Hyatt Regency London The Churchill
- Naomi Longfield Hakkasan
- Abigail Sole Marc Patisserie and Bakery
- Faye Weatherburn The Ritz London
- Mikaela Wright The Balmoral Hotel
Service:
- Melanie Ablinger Lucknam Park Hotel
- Ledia Alia Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
- Mike Ananiassen Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
- Rebecca Bauhofer Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles
- Stephanie Beresforde Scott's Restaurant
- Ashley Best The Ritz London
- Marion Bourgin Luton Hoo Hotel
- Giuseppe Cola The Ritz London
- Elise Corneau Lucknam Park Hotel
- Francesco De Santo The Ritz London
- Lewis Dixon Northcote Manor
- Daniel Dreiseitel The Ritz London
- Emma Drummond The Gleneagles Hotel
- Melissa Fergus The Fat Duck
- Laudy Gibba-Smith L'Enclume
- Louis Gillibert Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
- Innes Haywood L'Enclume
- Julia Hermann Galvin La Chapelle
- Christopher Hurle Trinity Restaurant
- Tomas Kubart Bar Boulud
- Giuseppe Laboragine Petrus
- Alexander Macleod The Balmoral Hotel
- Hannah McConnon The Gleneagles Hotel
- Emily Morris The Gleneagles Hotel
- Gerald Murati The Ritz London
- Remi Orero The Greenhouse
- James Parums The Royal Household
- Vincent Passaboc Bar Boulud
- Callum Rees The Gleneagles Hotel
- Benjamin Rushworth The Parkers Arms
- Dominik Schmidbauer The Lanesborough
- Elena Silveri The Gleneagles Hotel
- Paula Sobusiak Outlaw's at The Capital
- Gabriele Sorrentino The Ritz London
- Christopher Strachan The Three Chimneys
- Dimitar Tanev The French by Simon Rogan
- Laura Vernet Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
- Hannah Watson The Three Chimneys