'Cook off' Challenge To Choose Young Chef Of The Year.
25 February 2010
The Dome at the Devonshire campus will host the Excel Tourism Awards on Friday 26 February.
Our aim is to highlight the contribution made by people, rather than the organisations they work for, to demonstrate the wealth of quality and excellence we have within our tourism workforce.
”David James, Chief Executive at VPD&D
Four talented young chefs are set to have their culinary skills tested in a 'cook off' to earn one of the prestigious awards on offer in Visit Peak District & Derbyshire's first-ever tourism 'Oscars'. All entrants - including two students from the University of Derby Buxton - will put their expertise to the test as they vie for the title of Young Chef of the Year in the official tourist board's inaugural Excel Tourism Awards at the Devonshire Dome campus on Friday February 26.
They will prepare the dish of their choice under the eagle eyes of Robert Stordy, master chef at the University, and Philip Guest, development chef at Northern Foods, Sheffield.Robert and Philip will then decide which nominee should receive the accolade - to be announced at a glittering, Oscars-style Awards evening at Chatsworth on Thursday March 4.
Shortlisted students from the University are, Jessica Longdon, a Professional Chef's Diploma student, who also works at the Gate Inn in Warsop.
Other contenders are Veronica Dixon, commis chef at the Marriott Breadsall Priory Hotel and Country Club and Pete Lawrence, commis chef at Jurys Inn Derby and Alex Ballard of Finess Hotels, The Cathedral Quarter Derby. Gerry Henry, chef co-ordinator will oversee the cook-off.
Visit Peak District & Derbyshire (VPD&D) has launched the Excel Awards to recognise and reward outstanding individuals working in the local tourism industry who go the extra mile to offer high standards of service.
"Our aim is to highlight the contribution made by people, rather than the organisations they work for, to demonstrate the wealth of quality and excellence we have within our tourism workforce," said David James, Chief Executive at VPD&D.
"Tourism is a key player in the Derbyshire economy - worth around £1.4 billion a year and employing more than 24,000 people - and we're keen to reinforce its leading role by rewarding the efforts many of our operators and their staff make to provide the best possible experience for visitors.We hope the Excel Tourism Awards will become an annual event, celebrating some of the most successful and dedicated people working in tourism in our area."
Other categories - all of which have now been shortlisted - are: Outstanding Customer Care, Young Manager of the Year, Most Promising Student, Tourism Young Achiever, Team of the Year, Best Volunteer, Outstanding Contribution to Tourism and Unsung Hero.
The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and Her Grace the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire - who will celebrate her 90th birthday on March 31 - are expected to attend as the tourist board's guests at the Excel Tourism Awards evening in the Carriage House Restaurant at Chatsworth on March 4.
