Rookies give old pros a fright
A team of modern apprentices came a close second to their more experienced colleagues in the Sutcliffe South of England Salon Culinaire on 20 May.
Rebecca Bessant, Rachael Jury, Daniel Pinhorne, James Lester and Mark Finden were awarded a silver medal in the open team buffet class. Gold went to the Sutcliffe City Region Team, many of whom are members of the Sutcliffe Culinary Team that represents the company at national and international events.
Judges included: Peter Griffiths, executive head chef, Manor Hotel, Meriden, West Midlands; Eric Bruce, executive chef, the Belfry, Sutton Coalfield, Warwickshire; Willie Pike, executive chef, Gardner Merchant Citation, Scotland; Bruce Sangster, executive chef, Lehman Brothers, London; Steve Munkley, executive chef, Royal Garden Hotel, London; and Gary Hunter, chef-lecturer, Westminster College.
The event, which this year moved to the larger venue of Wembley Conference Centre, attracted 400 entries from Sutcliffe units across the South of England and for the first time included practical classes.
