Competitions round-up
Young Chef Young Waiter
The 64 chefs and waiters who will go forward to the regional finals of the 2003 Young Chef Young Waiter competition have been selected. The list includes competitors from establishments across the UK, and nearly two-thirds are from outside London.
They will be tested on their relevant skills at one of two regional finals in September - either at St Helen's College in Merseyside on 8 September or at Oxford Brookes University on 10 September - under the watchful eyes of two panels of experts.
The panels will be led by Philip Howard, chef-proprietor of London's Square restaurant, and Annie Schwab, joint owner of Winteringham Fields in Lincolnshire. They will choose 16 chefs and waiters to go through to the final in London in October.
The ultimate winners will each receive £2,000 and a gastronomic and wine tour of Rioja in Spain.
Young Chef Young Waiter, organised by the Restaurant Association with sponsorship by the Savoy Educational Trust, is one of the leading events on the competition circuit. It is open to professionals aged 25 and under, working full-time in the industry.
For a list of finalists, see www.ycyw.co.uk.
Spam Chef of the Year
Despite being the butt of many a gastronomic joke, the time has come for one of the USA's most famous foods to be lauded. The call is going out for chefs to send in their recipes to the competition to determine who will be the 2003 Spam Chef of the Year.
Judges will look for recipes that use the chopped ham and pork product with the most style and creativity. There are no limitations on price or other ingredients used.
Three finalists will attend the Spammie Awards on 8 October in London. The winner will be announced on the night. Other categories to be decided at the awards ceremony include the UK's biggest Spam fan, and the chippie which serves the best Spam fritters.
To enter, send your entries to Tom Smith, Spam Press Office, 126-128 Cromwell Road, London SW7 4ET. Closing date is 12 September.
S&N rewards top employees
The second Scottish & Newcastle Retail national awards ceremony saw nine employees from the brewery giant's pub division thrust into the limelight.
Prizes were dished out in categories ranging from chef to cellarman of the year at the ceremony, held at the Harte and Garter hotel in Windsor.
Awards went to: Margaret Shelcott (area bar manager of the year); Mark Fraser (best standards of the year); Steve Boddy (cellarman of the year); Les Johnson (chef of the year); Joseph and Margaret Heath (customer service pub of the year); Trevor Allsop (employee of the year); Massoud Jahanari (manager of the year); Diane Branch (marketing pub of the year); and Mark Butcher (special achievement).
