Eric Chavot honoured with Special Award at Craft Guild of Chefs Awards
Eric Chavot, chef-patron of the one-Michelin-starred Brasserie Chavot situated in London's Westbury Hotel in Mayfair, has been honoured with the Craft Guild of Chefs' Special Award for his commitment to the industry and outstanding contribution to the British food scene.
The top award was announced at a gala dinner at an awards ceremony at London's Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel today, and attended by more than 650 guests.
Chavot, who previously held two Michelin stars at London's Capital hotel before taking three years out of the kitchen, returned to the London food scene to launch his eponymous restaurant in early 2013. Despite a desire to serve a simpler style of cuisine, food that he describes as having grown up with and would expect to find in a brasserie, the 80-seat restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in its first seven months of trading.
In addition to Chavot's accolade, a further 16 awards were presented on the night including the Craft Guild of Chefs' new Concept & Innovation Chef Award which aims to recognise "the trendsetters in the industry who are bringing food, fashion and style to the fore".
The popular People's Choice Award once again had a shortlist of four impressive candidates with chef-consultant Willie Pike receiving the most online votes. Pike was hailed as an inspiration for many chefs and praised for founding the Scottish Chef Conference, aimed at improving standards in the industry.
In addition to the above awards, other winners included newly crowned Acorn Award winner Ben Dutson of Sodexo Prestige Events, Peter Joyner of Elior UK who picked up the Contract Catering Chef Award title, Gymkhana, winner of the New Restaurant of the Year Award, veteran pastry chef Martin Powell of the RAC Club who won the Pastry Chef Award, Michelin-starred chef Paul Kitching of Edinburgh restaurant 21212, who clinched the Restaurant Chef Award title, and multiple Catey Award winner Andrew Pern of the Star Inn in Harome, who was given Pub Restaurant Chef Award title.
The Craft Guild of Chefs Awards 2014 winners in full:
•Apprentice Chef Award - Louise Roberts, Lexington Catering
•Armed Services Chef Award - LChef Laura Willison, Royal Navy
•Banqueting & Event Chef Award - Ben Dutson, Sodexo Prestige Events
•Chef Lecturer Award - Vincent Cottam, Westminster Kingsway College
•Competition Chef Award - Ben Ford, River Island, Eurest
•Concept & Innovation Chef Award - Polpetto
•Contract Catering Chef Award - Peter Joyner, Elior UK
•Cost Sector Chef Award - Glyn Greenow, Infantry Battle School, Sodexo
•Development Chef Award - Sanjay Sighat, The Authentic Food Company
•Ethnic Chef Award - Raju Ramachandran, Cinnamon Soho
•New Restaurant of the Year Award - Gymkhana
•Pastry Chef Award - Martin Powell, RAC Club
•People's Choice Award - Willie Pike, chef consultant
•Pub Restaurant Chef Award - Andrew Pern, The Star Inn
•Restaurant Chef Award - Paul Kitching, 21212
•Young Chef Award - Thomas Lawson, Rafters Restaurant
•Special Award - Eric Chavot
Full nominees list announced for Craft Guild of Chefs Awards 2014 >>