Hotel Chef wins Restaurant Chef of the Year Award
20th June 2012
This year's Restaurant Chef of the Year Award at the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards has been awarded to Richard Allen, executive head chef at Grand Jersey hotel.
Speaking about the award Richard Allen stated ‘I am thrilled to have been recognised by the Craft Guild of Chefs; these really are prestigious awards. To be shortlisted was fantastic but to win is amazing. I have had a fabulous 12 months, securing my first Michelin star, making it onto the Debrett's People of Today list and overseeing the recent refurbishment of Tassili at Grand Jersey. This award really is the icing on the cake!'
Mr Allen took over as executive head chef at the Grand Jersey's Michelin starred restaurant, Tassili, in 2007, and has enjoyed significant recognition in the role. In his first six months at Grand Jersey Mr Allen was awarded three AA Rosettes for Tassili and has retained them for three consecutive years. Most recently he was recognised in the prestigious Debrett's 2012 People of Today list, after securing his Michelin star in October 2011.
Mr Allen trained at Bournemouth and Poole catering school before embarking on his career as a chef and has since had the opportunity to work with a variety of renowned chefs including Australian master chef Cheong Liew, Martin Blunos and Michele Roux JR – all of whom have influenced Mr Allen's style of cuisine.
The Craft Guild of Chef 2012 Winners
Apprentice Chef Award sponsored by Compass Group UK & Ireland
Lyndsay Michie Le Gavroche
Armed Services Chef Award sponsored by Purple Foodservice Solutions
Mark Sweeney Royal Air Force
Banqueting & Event Chef Award sponsored by McCain Foods
Phil Herd Levy Restaurants
Competition Chef Award sponsored by Electrolux Professional
Mark Hill House of Commons
Contract Catering Chef Award sponsored by Broadland Farms Fresh Turkey
Mark Crowe Elior UK
Cost Sector Chef Award sponsored by Lamb Weston
Mark Hancock University of Sussex
Development Chef Award sponsored by Discovery Foods
Robin Turner Sodexo
Education Chef Award sponsored by Town & Country Foods
Gary Hunter Westminster Kingsway College
Ethnic Chef Award sponsored by Pritchitts
Mehernosh Mody La Porte des Indes
New Restaurant Of The Year Award sponsored by Jelf Insurance
Pollen Street Social, London
Pastry Chef Award sponsored by Callebaut
Cherish Finden The Langham Hotel
People's Choice Award sponsored by Mövenpick Ice Cream
Michael Kitts Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, Dubai
Pub Restaurant Chef Award sponsored by Premier Foods
Rob Hartwell The Rose & Crown
Restaurant Chef Award sponsored by Alaska Seafood
Richard Allen Grand Jersey Hotel & Spa
Young Chef Award sponsored by Falcon Williams
Ben Murphy Koffmann's at the Berkeley Hotel
Special Award sponsored by Sodexo UK & Ireland
Cyrus Todiwala Cafe Spice Namaste
Honorary Award
Martin Bates CEO of the Craft Guild of Chefs
Source: jersey.isle-news.co.uk