Compass Group UK & Ireland is celebrating after an outstanding display from its chefs at Hotelympia last week (28 April – 1 May), during which its culinary team won La Parade des Chefs. Chefs from Compass worked together to demonstrate the outstanding quality of food delivered every day across the business, coming away with a total of 102 awards which included 21 gold awards and 16 best in class from dozens of categories over the five day event.
A major highlight for the leading food and support services provider was the Compass culinary team being crowned supreme champions of, and being awarded gold at, La Parade des Chefs. The team comprised Bob Brown (team captain), Chris Terry, Richard Abbott, Neil Rankin, James Hart and Clark Crawley.
Compass’ ten apprentices also made a mark; as well as coming away with three certificates of merit, three bronze awards and a silver, they also volunteered to help out at the Springboard charity evening meal – a three course meal, served to 700 guests at the ExCeL. The Compass apprentices showed real teamwork and skill when preparing over 150 starters, mains and desserts in a makeshift kitchen.
Nick Vadis, Culinary Director for Compass said: “I am incredibly proud of the skill and dedication our chefs have shown at Hotelympia, and I’m absolutely thrilled we have come away as the overall winners of La Parade des Chefs. This show gives us an opportunity to demonstrate the skill, passion and expertise that our Compass culinary teams have in abundance.
“Culinary competitions are a great way of celebrating excellence but they are also about improvement and development. Our junior chefs of today are our head chefs of tomorrow, and the standard of our junior entries at Hotelympia this year has been immensely impressive. Well done to each and every competitor.”