August 23, 2019

Feature: AA Food Service Award Shortlist 2019-2020

Feature: AA Food Service Award Shortlist 2019-2020

AA Hospitality has today revealed the top three restaurants in the UK for customer service.

The shortlist for the AA Food Service Award is revealed today, ahead of
the AA Hospitality Awards ceremony next month. The UK’s top restaurants
for customer service are:

·        
Moorhall, Omskirk, Lancashire

·        
French at Midland, Manchester

·         The Ritz, London

The Food Service Award recognises restaurants that deliver excellent
standards of restaurant service and hospitality. Teams will deliver
technical service skills and food and beverage knowledge of the highest
standard.

The 2018 – 2019 Food Service Award went to Margot, London, which was
applauded for its focus on excellent service and its staff’s attention
to detail.  

Simon Numphud, Managing Director of AA Media said, “We are very
happy to share the shortlist for this year’s Food Service Award. Good
service is an essential aspect of an enjoyable dining experience and the
three shortlisted establishments are all excellent
examples of high-quality customer service. We look forward to
celebrating with them at the AA Hospitality Awards next month.”

The Food Service of the Year winner will be announced on Monday 23rd September at the AA Hospitality Award ceremony at Grosvenor House, hosted by Kate Silverton.

Other categories at the AA Hospitality Awards include Hotel of the Year;
Hotel Group of the Year; Spa of the Year; Housekeeper of the Year; Chef
of the Year; Restaurant of the Year; AA Wine Award; AA Lifetime
Achievement of the Year.

from Fine Dining Guide

August 22, 2019

Learn by heart: Why catering colleges are fighting to survive

Learn by heart: Why catering colleges are fighting to survive

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With college restaurants falling victim to the guillotine of government cuts and businesses struggling to find the next generation of staff, Vincent Wood and Katherine Price take a look at hospitality education and ask operators, colleges and students how they are working together to keep the system alive

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August 20, 2019

Feature: Gold Service Scholarship 2020 Announced, (August 2019)

Feature: Gold Service Scholarship 2020 Announced, (August 2019)

The Gold Service Scholarship 2020 will
kick off for applications from young hospitality industry professionals on
Monday, 2nd September, with a closing date on Wednesday 2nd October 2019. The
competition, now in its 8th year, continues its annual search for ambitious and talented
UK front-of-house specialists, aged 22-28, working in Food & Beverage, who
aspire to greater professional heights in their careers.

Edward Griffiths, Trustee and Chairman of
the Judges, praised the phenomenal quality of candidates and their achievements
over the past seven years of the Scholarship. “It has been so gratifying and
rewarding to meet and mentor so many young people who are dedicated to their particular
craft within the hospitality industry. Each year, we have witnessed the pride
they take in their work, and the appreciation they have for their involvement
in the Gold Service Scholarship.”

Ranging from waiters and assistant
managers through sommeliers and bar staff, the Gold Service Scholarship
attracts candidates from hotels, restaurants, catering companies and many other
service organisations and venues.

The key common denominator of all Gold
Service Scholarship applicants has always been a desire to improve their skill
set, to network with like-minded industry colleagues, and to engage with the
Trustees and Ambassadors who are active mentors throughout the process.

Applications must be made online on www.thegoldservicescholarship.co.uk. An explanation of the Scholarship process, with tips on how to apply, is also on the website. Following the closing date for entries on 2nd October, the Quarter Finals will take place on 26th October at Café Royal and the Langham on 28th October, followed by the Semi-Finals on 25th November at Rosewood London. The Final testing will be held at Corinthia London in early January, followed by the Gala Awards Ceremony on 12th February at The Berkeley where the new 2020 Scholar will be announced.

Karen Gruet, The Current Gold Service Scholar

Past Scholars proudly explain how much their achievement has meant to their career growth. The current 2019 Scholar, Karen Gruet, who is Assistant Restaurant Manager at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, proudly explained: “The Scholarship has enabled me to develop my knowledge through many incredible learning experiences and has helped me explore many different sides of the front-of-house profession.”

Hospitality consultant and Gold Service Scholarship Ambassador Diego Masciaga also commented: “Service is a huge commitment; anyone can be great for a few days but being consistently able to deliver exceptional service requires a 24-hour commitment, hunger to succeed, humility and honesty – and this is what the Gold Service Scholarship instils in our young professionals.”

The hashtag #GSS2020 is in common usage on social media for further information on the Scholarship.  Background to The Gold Service Scholarship is a feature article from 2017 on fine dining guide that outlines the workings of the scholarship and is useful for background reading.

In summary, it was launched in 2012 to encourage a lasting heritage of excellence in hospitality, and it is proud to have the endorsement of Her Majesty The Queen as its Patron.

GSS Trustee Board 9

Its Trustees include some of the UK’s most highly regarded professionals, including Willy Bauer (Founder), Alastair Storey (Chairman), Edward Griffiths (Chairman of the Judges), Sergio Rebecchi, Silvano Giraldin, Thomas Kochs, Sara Jayne Staines and John Davey. The programme celebrates the craft of service in F&B and front-of-house, and nurtures young talent through tailored mentoring. The past seven years’ Scholars and Finalists have had impressive progression in their careers to date, due in part to the networks that they have established during their association with the Scholarship. As Alumni, they also are members of Team Gold, a newsletter and social sharing platform for all Scholars and Finalists.

from Fine Dining Guide

August 12, 2019

Reviews: The Standard hotel’s swagger doesn’t quite make it to the plate at Isla; while the chefs at Liverpool’s Pilgrim are ‘too busy having fun to bother with details’

Reviews: The Standard hotel’s swagger doesn’t quite make it to the plate at Isla; while the chefs at Liverpool’s Pilgrim are ‘too busy having fun to bother with details’

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Reviews: The Standard hotel’s swagger doesn’t quite make it to the plate at Isla; while the chefs at Liverpool’s Pilgrim are ‘too busy having fun to bother with details’

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