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23rd October 2019

International Salon Culinaire returns to HRC London for 2020

Written by: Edward Waddell
The International Salon Culinaire is returning to the Hotel, Restaurant & Catering Show 2020 (formerly Hotelympia) at ExCeL London from 3-5 March.

‘Talented chefs, inspirational ingredients and healthy competition’ combine for the International Salon Culinaire. The purpose of the competition programme is to showcase the UK’s most exciting up and coming chefs.

It is the UK’s ‘largest and most prestigious programme of chef competitions in 2020’ with over 100 competition classes across four different categories: Salon Display, Live Theatre, Skills Theatre and Sugarcraft.

The International Salon Culinaire is judged by over 70 of the UK’s most esteemed industry chefs from The Craft Guild of Chefs, The Association of Pastry Chefs, The British Culinary Federation and The Royal Academy of Arts.

Chef director Steve Munkley, executive chef at The Royal Garden Hotel and vice president of The Craft Guild of Chefs, will be curating the programme of competitions, all requiring skills, techniques and ingredients prominent in today’s professional kitchen.

The major competitions include:

  • The Mystery Basket Grand prix sponsored by Bidfood
  • Tilda Chef Team of the Year 2020
  • UNCLE BEN’S® and DOLMIO PROFESSIONAL® Foodservice Student Catering Challenge 
  • The Sodexo Chef of the Year 2020 – Grand Final   
  • The Major Series Final 2020 in association with The Craft Guild of Chefs
  • Master Chefs of Great Britain Challenge
  • The Craft Guild of Chef’s National Chef Team of the Year 2020 in association with MSK
  • As well as senior and junior pasta, lamb and pastry competitions amongst others

Nick Vadis, culinary director at Compass Group, said: “The Salon Culinaire has provided our chefs with an opportunity to demonstrate the breadth of talent and skills being developed within our business.

“It’s excellent to see our chefs come away with an array of awards, and I’m always extremely proud of every chef that takes part in the competition.”

The Live Theatre has ten adjacent workstations with kitchen equipment supplied by members of CESA (The Catering Equipment Suppliers Association).

The Salon Display, sponsored by Compass Group, will showcase culinary creations from the senior, junior and student chefs. The ‘Table of Honour’ will return for 2020 where some gold-winning competitors will show off their medal winning exhibits.

The Skills Theatre is dedicated to chefs at the start of their careers. Young chefs will have the opportunity to practice essential skills including butchery and fishmongery.  

Entry is open online but closes on 21 January 2020, visit: www.hrc.co.uk to apply.