The evening, hosted by RACA and AAE chairman John Williams and RACA president Brian Turner, showcased the academy’s three overall winners: Young Chef of the Year Matthew Ambrose from Claridge’s in London; Young Pastry Chef of the Year Lucy Jones from The Ritz in London; and Young Waiter of the Year Adam Willis from Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in Oxfordshire.

The winners received trophies, Meyer cookware, Victorinox knives, a bursary worth £2,000 courtesy of the Savoy Educational Trust, and a day’s work experience at The Fat Duck Restaurant in Bray.

A further 30 talented young chefs, pastry chefs and waiters were also celebrated for successfully achieving the RACA’s Annual Award of Excellence 2013 in finals held in June.

To achieve the award candidates had to attain a score of more than 70% in the tasks set and judged by a host of industry luminaries chaired by Williams.

Williams said: “I hope that through the Annual Awards of Excellence we can motivate and inspire the industry’s young chefs, pastry chefs and waiters to undertake a career of training first themselves, and then others; and to look outside the workplace to wider industry and opportunities.”

For details about the competition and winners, visit http://www.academyofculinaryarts.org.uk/news-events/news/32