With a glittering Going for Gold theme, the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards 2012 will take place at Wembley Stadium to fit in with the London Olympics, organisers have confirmed.
Run with military precision, the annual celebration of chefs across the foodservice industry will also feature an explosive new accolade to recognise those who feed our Armed Forces.
This year’s ceremony on Wednesday, June 13th 2012 will celebrate a Military Chef of the Year, bumping up the number of awards presented to the cream of the crop of UK chefs to 15 in addition to the Special Award.
Craft Guild of Chefs vice president Steve Munkley said feeding the country’s military personnel was a demanding and varied occupation which deserved to be recognised.
“We are looking for someone who has had an outstanding career and achieved excellence over many years of service, or has shown dedication over and above the call of duty in a situation,” he said. “If you know of a military chef that fits this bill who you believe should be held up as a shining example, we are now inviting nominations for this overdue award.
The Craft Guild of Chefs awards aim to reward leading lights from across the industry, whether they work in a village pub, fine dining restaurant, city university, a military unit or in contract catering. They might even be development chefs for national retailers.
For a chance to win, candidates must first be nominated by a peer or mentor. They are then scrutinised by a panel of judges comprising experts from various sectors.
While online voting for is not exclusive to the Craft Guild of Chefs’ 1,500 members, it is an invaluable way for the association’s membership to become more interactive.
Every year, there is also a Special Achievement Award, reserved for an exceptional personality who has made an outstanding contribution to the industry as a whole. Last year’s went to Philip Howard, who has cooked at the two Michelin-starred ‘The Square’ restaurant for over 20 years and has become a hugely respected chef in the industry.
To nominate someone for a prestigious Craft Guild of Chefs Award, visit www.craftguildofchefs.org
The deadline for entries is March 9th 2012.
For further information visit www.craftguildofchefs.org