Over 160 medals, including 30 golds, were awarded to chefs from across hospitality, as the new look Salon Culinaire, held during the three-day Hospitality Show, lived up to its billing as one of the world’s premier culinary competitions.
The competition classes of Live Theatre – sponsored by Compass Group UK – provided a constant backdrop to proceedings where it was standing-room-only for a number of challenges, while the bar was set higher than ever with the exquisite works of Salon Display, also sponsored by Compass, which provided a real draw.
Junior Team Challenge
But it was the young brigade of University College Birmingham (UCB) who stole the day with their thrilling overall win at fine dining team challenge, La Parade des Chefs – sponsored by Coup de pates, with Bonnet by Hobart kitchens – which, for this year, became a junior team challenge. Each brigade was made up of five junior chefs aged 23 or under with a senior chef as mentor.
UCB cooked their way to gold with a three-course set menu for over 100 covers at the show – plus four plates for the judges. The win was made all the more poignant because of the college’s locality to the show and its long-held affiliation with the competition.
The overall win, announced on the show’s final day, was preceded with news of the Combined Services Culinary Arts Team, which won gold for its menu on Monday; and the Compass Group team, which took bronze for its menu on Tuesday.
Young talent rewarded
Salon Chef Director, James Tanner, commented: “Congratulations to each and every competitor on making the 2015 Salon Culinaire such a success – to command over 160 awards is an absolutely fantastic achievement; every medal winner is a credit to the profession.
“So many of today’s leading chefs have cut their teeth in the competitive spotlight of this event, so it is with great pride that this year, yet again, we have seen some of the country’s most promising young cooking talent rewarded for their scintillating skills. It is my hope that they can take this unique experience with them as they progress.”
Steve Munkley takes on Salon Chef Director
During the show it was also announced that due to burgeoning work commitments James Tanner is to step down from the post of Salon Chef Director. While he will still be part of the highly successful team, the baton is to be passed to Executive Head Chef of the Royal Garden Hotel, Steve Munkley.
Steve will take up the post from Hotelympia 2016.
For a comprehensive list of the 2015 Salon Culinaire results click here
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