Industry veteran Victor Ceserani given honorary doctorate on 90th birthday

Industry veteran Victor Ceserani has been awarded an honorary doctorate at Thames Valley University in recognition of his contribution to education.

The tribute coincided with the 90th birthday celebrations for the chef, teacher and author who pioneered catering education in the UK. He has been lauded as a "culinary hero of British cuisine" by Anton Mosimann and as "one of the pillars of the industry" by Michel Roux.

After a career as a chef, during which time his signature dish was roast beaver, Ceserani wrote the industry bibles PracticalCookery, Advanced Practical Cookery and The Theory of Catering, which became standard textbooks in UK catering colleges.

Ceserani's many awards include an MBE and honorary life membership of the HCIMA. He won the Special Award (then called Personality of the Year) in the first-ever Cateys held in 1984 and followed this with a Lifetime Achievement accolade in 1992.

View the images from Ceserani's 90th birthday celebration at Table Talk >>

Read Vic Laws' tribute to Ceserani >>
Vineyard head chef turns industry's education bible author >>
By Amanda Afiya

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