Santin wins place in PPTParis
It was all systems go at Westminster College on Wednesday 11 October when the school hosted the UK final of the annual Prix Pierre Taittinger competition for the second year running.
Eight finalists took part in a closely contested cook-off, but 24-year-old Francesco Santin, senior chef de partie at London's Connaught hotel, walked away as the winner and he will now go on to represent the UK in the grand final to be held in Paris on 14 November.
Santin and his fellow chefs had five hours to cook and serve a free interpretation fillet beef dish regularly served at their place of work, plus a set recipe. The latter, a classic tart tatin, was only made known one week before the final.
"I had a good feeling about what I had done, but could have done better," said Italian-born Santin, who is eligible to represent the UK in the PPT because he has worked in the country for the past three years. "The tatin was perfect, but I was not happy with the mushroom garnish on my beef dish [fillet baked en croute in puff pastry, with foie gras in the middle and a cèpe mousse]. There was not enough colour," he explained.
The chairman of the 14-strong judging panel, Paul Gaylor, executive chef of the Lanesborough Hotel in London, commented: "The judges thought the seasoning was perfect on Francesco's main course. He did well on both dishes but scored particularly well in the tatin. It was the only one that was caramelised properly. It was perfectly cooked. I don't think it could have been made better."
He added that he thought Santin, from the Venice region, had the potential to do well in Paris. "He's going into a tough competition," he said, "but if he puts his mind to it he can do it."
