Myles Donneky, 23, bar manager of the Aqua Shard (pictured above) has been awarded the first Rothschild Rising Star Award, organised by the Food & Beverage Managers Association (F&BMA).
The runner-up was Karen Lee, manager of the Cavendish London’s Restaurant & Lounge, with David Oosterling, food & beverage supervisor at London’s W Hotel in third place.
The three winners will be assigned a year of professional mentoring from a leading industry figure along with membership of the F&BMA. In October they will visit the Baron de Rothschild cellars in Reims and Bordeaux as part of their prize, and all three receive a bottle of Baron de Rothschild champagne.
Rothschild Rising Star program
The Rothschild Rising Star program was set up this year to find future stars working in hotel food and beverage. From 25 entries, 10 were selected to attend the final judging in the grand surroundings of Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire. The magnificent Manor was built in 1877 by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in the style of a Loire châteaux.
At the final all 10 candidates, nominated by members of the F&BMA as being Rising Stars, underwent a gruelling day of judging including a written wine knowledge test along with a food and wine matching exercise. They were also asked to put together a business strategy for a hypothetical restaurant inside a London hotel taking marketing, staffing and financial projections into consideration. At the final the candidates presented their plans to a panel of judges.
The judges marked the candidates on their presentation skills, originality, personality, time management, creativity and business acumen as well as their ability to answer detailed questions about their business plan.
The nine-strong judging panel represented a cross-section of some of the most well-known and respected operators in the London hotel and restaurant sector including F&BMA chairman Roy Sommer, deputy general manager of the Cavendish London; Ashley Shaw, hotel manager of the Mondrian, London; and John Cousins, director of the F&B Training Company.
Said Sommer, “This award has got off to an encouraging start – with a good number of entries of a very high standard. All finalists can be very proud of themselves, they gave a good account of what they are capable of and of what they can become.”
About F&BMA
The Food & Beverage Managers Association of London was originally established in 1994 but re-launched in 2013 to promote high standards of management, training and education within London’s food & beverage profession. Its aims are to increase the status and awareness of the profession as a viable career choice and to build a social networking framework for membership. The organisation encourages and organises mentoring for young people looking to establish a career in the industry. The association has recently been given fresh impetus with the launch of the inaugural Rothschild Rising Star Award.
Judges at the final
John Cousins, Director, F&B Training Company
John Croft, Training & Development consultant
Desiree Dils, Secretary F&BMA, General Manager, Aqua London
Paul Gilley, Managing Director, Pj Search & Selection
Erick Kervaon, General Manager, The Bingham, Surrey
Delphine Maillard, Director of F&B, Jumeirah Carlton Hotel
Ashley Shaw, Hotel manager, Mondrian London
Roy Sommer , Chairman F&BMA, Deputy General Manager, The Cavendish London
Scot Turner, Hotel Manager, Intercontinental Westminster