The ball starts rolling for Hotelympia 2000
A mixtureof the new and the familiar will be on show to an expected 60,000 trade visitors at Hotelympia 2000 - the biggest hospitality show to be held in the UK.
The event, run by Reed Exhibitions and taking place at London's Earls Court from 7 to 11 February, will host the revamped National Chef of the Year competition in the Garde d'Or theatre, sponsored by Van den Bergh Foodservice (Caterer, 17 June, page 67).
Also new is a Web site, which will hold up-to-date information on the show. The address is http://www.hotelympia.com.
Other established events and competitions include the Salon Culinaire International de Londres (incorporating the Live Theatre, Salon Display and La Parade des Chefs) and Field 2000, under which banner British and Nato armed forces will serve gourmet food cooked on basic, portable field catering equipment.
Innovations and invention will be recognised in the New Product Awards and for inspirational interiors there will be the GS Design Competition. Business forums discussing the main issues of the day will again take place at the Hospitality Summit.
For further information on exhibiting at the show contact Reed Exhibitions by phone on 0181-910 7869, or by e-mail on hotelympia@reedexpo.co.uk.
by Noella Pio Kivlehan
The winner of the 1999 Roux Diners Club Scholarship, Satwant Bains, has begun his three-month stage at the three-Michelin-starred Jardin des Sens in Montpellier with Jacques and Laurent Pourcel - his reward for winning the competition in April this year.
Bains (pictured right), who fought off challenges from chefs at establishments such as London's Aubergine and Heathcote's restaurant in Longridge, Lancashire, (Caterer, 20 May, page 52), had planned to spend his stage with Michel Bras at his restaurant in Laguiole, but Bras was unable to accommodate him.
"I was distraught when Bras couldn't take me because that was the reason I went for the scholarship," he said. "But I also admire the Pourcel brothers, who are phenomenal cuisiniäres. I am looking forward to learning new skills and expanding my repertoire in an establishment that is putting a modern interpretation on what is going on in France."
Prior to the competition, Bains found himself out of a job when the Ashbourne Gallery restaurant in Derbyshire, where he was head chef, closed, but he has secured another head chef position at a Nottingham hotel which he will take up on his return from France.
Linzl Impett and Jennifer Jones competed against eight other teams from local schools in a two-hour cook-off to win the 1999 Young Chef of the Year competition organised by Blackpool and The Fylde College in Lancashire.
Their winning menu for a two-course meal for two covers comprised pork medallions in a herb cream sauce served with baked aubergine, basil and mozzarella rolls and mange-tout, followed by an orange and ginger cheesecake served with raspberry coulis and fresh strawberries.
The winners receive a meal for themselves and three guests at the college's restaurant.
