The glitz and the glamour of our 20th awards highlighted just how far the Craft Guild of Chefs, and indeed its founding body the Cookery & Food Association, has come. I think this event helped instil into the young and the not-so-young what a fantastic industry this is to work in.

Following this I had the pleasure of entertaining the winners of the Brakes Student Challenge who spent a week working in prestigious establishments such as Harrods, The Dorchester and Café Spice Namesté, working with such great chefs. I’m sure this has fuelled their appetites to push ahead with their careers.

Another fantastic event gathering real momentum is the Universal Cookery & Food Festival held this year at Warbrook House, which had a real eclectic mix of food producers large and small, foraging and street food. Next year the venue is the renowned River Cottage and I strongly suggest the date is booked into your diary soonest.

This year’s Graduate Awards had a new look and feel to its award ceremony this year and was held at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel where we were treated to first class canapés including the chefs’ tongue-in-cheek take on a sushi box. The event saw five out of seven competitors go on to graduate, with Claire Willett being third time lucky.

My last mention goes to National Chef of the Year, which now has its eight worthy finalists ready to compete after a cracking mentors day at Unilever in Leatherhead, and the Young National Chef of the Year with its line-up of exciting young talent.

Here’s hoping you all have a great autumn.

Kind regards
Christopher Basten
National Chairman
Craft Guild of Chefs