By Denis Sheehan MIH, Publisher, H&C News: 2023 Gold Service Scholarship Winning Finalists Revealed.
Candidates from as far as Perthshire and Pembrokeshire have been selected as the winning finalists of this year’s Gold Service Scholarship, with eight young professionals chosen to compete for the 2023 Scholar title at the final in January.
The final will take place on Monday 16 January 2023 at Corinthia London, where the winning finalists will serve a three-course lunch to a table of four. Judges will look at the candidate’s mise en place, welcome and service, as well as professionalism, demeanour and potential.
The 2023 Scholar will then be announced at a gala reception at Claridge’s on 15 February.
The winning finalists are already guaranteed access to a range of learning opportunities, as well as the competition’s Team Gold alumni network.
The prizes this year include a host of professional development opportunities including a bespoke academic course at the world-famous École Hôtelière de Lausanne; working a state banquet at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle; placements at Michelin-starred restaurants and five-star hotels in the UK and abroad including the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok; and educational trips to Champagne and Porto.
The successful finalists are:
- Charlotte Bailey, fine dining head waiter, Le Manor aux Quat’Saisons, Oxfordshire
- Giulia D’Angelo, assistant manager, Trivet restaurant, London
- Jupiter Humphrey-Bishop, footman, the Royal Household
- Ryan Kenyon, restaurant manager, Coast Saundersfoot
- Daniela Mayer, assistant restaurant manager, Strathearn restaurant, Gleneagles hotel
- Kevin Ricou, head waiter, the Ritz London
- Robin Tola, head waiter, Hélène Darroze at the Connaught, London
- Lynn van Logtestijn, head waiter, Core by Clare Smyth, London
Chair of judges Edward Griffiths said: “The quality of the Gold Service Scholarship entries improve every year, and the judges and I have already been thoroughly impressed by the standards and professionalism displayed by candidates during the earlier stages of the competition. Wishing all our winning finalists the very best of luck and congratulations for having proven themselves to be among the top young front-of-house professionals in food and beverage in the country.”