2018 Chef Stagiaire WINNER – Chris Davis

We are proud to announce that the 2018 Winner of Chef Stagiaire Award is Chris Davis!!

Chris competed against Enrique Garcia de Olalla in the hard fought final at The Hand & Flowers, Marlow, managed by Head Chef Aaron Mulliss, and the judges said the final score sheets were incredibly close so a massive well done to both competitors.

Chris will be jetting of to San Francisco now to work at 3 Michelin star Benu with Chef Patron Corey Lee and his team for 4 weeks, followed by an amazing 2 weeks in the Seychelles at the breathtaking Six Senses Resort.

Watch this space for images and diary entries of the final week and everything the lads got up to.

Thank you to everyone to helped Chef Stagiaire this year, the entrants, the judges, the stage kitchens and their teams, the prize locations and all of their teams, and of course The Hand & Flowers and particularly Head Chef Aaron Mulliss and Chef Patron Tom Kerridge for allowing Chef Stagiaire into their kitchen for the final week.

See you all again next year!

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2018 Finalists ANNOUNCED

2 X FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2018 CHEF STAGIAIRE AWARD.

2 entrants have beaten off some very stiff competition to go through to the 2018 Chef Stagiaire Final at The Hand & Flowers 2 Michelin restaurant in Marlow, Bucks with Chef Patron Tom Kerridge and Head Chef Aaron Mulliss.

In no particular order, our 2018 Chef Stagiaire Finalists are…:

 

Christopher Davis completed his Semi Final stage at Angler, London

currently working at Restaurant Story, London

 

Enrique Javier Diez completed his Semi Final stage at Elystan Street, London

currently working at The Frog, London

 

Congratulations to both of them, fantastic work. We wish them all the best for the Final!

 

The Final will be held between 27th September and 1st October 2018, after which Tom Kerridge, Aaron Mulliss, as well as our team of Judges, will score and mark the final results and we will announce the overall Winner!

 

The Winner of Chef Stagiaire Award 2018 will win an all expenses paid international working holiday which includes 4 weeks at renowned 3 Michelin star restaurant Benu in San Francisco, under the guidance of pioneering Chef Patron, Corey Lee, then onto a further 2 incredible weeks at the opulent 6 star Six Senses Zil Pasyon resort in the Seychelles, for a period of cooking and relaxation in one of their breath-taking luxury Villas.

Catch up with all the latest here www.chefstagiaire.com

 

A massive thank you to everyone below, everyone who entered the competition, every Head Chef who mentored an entrant through the application process, every kitchen, all of the Judges, every Head Chef, Sous Chef, Chef de Partie, Commis Chef and team member front and back of house, that supported Chef Stagiaire 2018. Its been an absolute pleasure so far…

 

Completed Semi Finals:

 

Jamacia Ellaway completed her stage at Adam’s Restaurant, Birmingham

currently working at Park Regis, Birmingham

 

Simona Macugova completed her stage at Alyn Williams at The Westbury, London

currently working at Baxter Storey, London

 

Oscar Dimaline completed his stage at Casamia, Bristol

currently at The Muddy Duck

 

Leon Carter completed his stage at Purnell’s, Birmingham

currently working at Adare Manor, Ireland

 

Steven Stewart completed his stage at Hampton Manor, Hampton in Arden

currently working at Ballathie House Hotel, Scotland

 

Emily Orton completed her stage at Restaurant Story, London

currently working at Lexington Food, London

 

Ladislav Florean completed his stage at The Clove Club, London

currently working as a Freelance Chef

 

Daniel Delaney completed his stage at Ynyshir Restaurant with Rooms, Powys, Wales

currently working at Adare Manor, Ireland

 

The Chef Stagiaire 2018 team of Judges:

James Mackenzie, Head Chef and Proprietor of The Pipe & Glass [1 Michelin Star]

Luke Tipping, Chef Director at Simpsons, Birmingham (1 Michelin Star)

Tim Blake, Regional Executive Chef working for Restaurant Associates at Google, London

 

#talent

#stagiaire2018

 

0800 012 6949

awards@chefstagiaire.com

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Semi Finals are complete for 2018 Chef Stagiaire

CHEF STAGIAIRE AWARD ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THIS YEARS 10 X SEMI FINALISTS HAVE ALL COMPLETED THEIR STAGES WITHIN THEIR DESIGNATED MICHELIN KITCHENS

www.chefstagiaire.com

Its been a tough few weeks for the Chef Stagiaire Semi Final nominees, but they have all now completed their stages at the Michelin kitchen they were assigned to. Here are all the details below.

 

In no particular order, the Semi Finalists and locations for Chef Stagiaire 2018 were;

Jamacia Ellaway completed her stage at Adam’s Restaurant, Birmingham

currently working at Park Regis, Birmingham

 Simona Macugova completed her stage at Alyn Williams at The Westbury, London

currently working at Baxter Storey, London

 Christopher Davis completed his stage at Angler, London

currently working at Restaurant Story, London

 Oscar Dimaline completed his stage at Casamia, Bristol

currently at The Muddy Duck

 Enrique Javier Diez completed his stage at Elystan Street, London

currently working at The Frog, London

Steven Stewart completed his stage at Hampton Manor, Hampton in Arden

currently working at Ballathie House Hotel, Scotland

 Leon Carter completed his stage at Purnell’s, Birmingham

currently working at Adare Manor, Ireland

 Emily Orton completed her stage at Restaurant Story, London

currently working at Lexington Food, London

 Ladislav Florean completed his stage at The Clove Club, London

currently working as a Freelance Chef

 Daniel Delaney completed his stage at Ynyshir Restaurant with Rooms, Powys, Wales

currently working at Adare Manor, Ireland

 

The Chef Stagiaire 2018 team of Judges:

James Mackenzie, Head Chef and Proprietor of The Pipe & Glass [1 Michelin Star]

Luke Tipping, Chef Director at Simpsons, Birmingham (1 Michelin Star)

Tim Blake, Regional Executive Chef working for Restaurant Associates at Google, London

 

The Judges have scored the feedback and reports received from every Head Chef following the Semi Finals and 2 entrants will shortly be selected to go through to the Final.

The 2 confirmed Finalists will go head to head at Tom Kerridge’s fabulous 2 Michelin star Hand & Flowers in Marlow to work under the watchful and experienced eyes of Head Chef Aaron Mulliss.

Tom and Aaron will score the entrants at the end of the Final week, then our Judges will confirm the overall Winner of 2018 Chef Stagiaire Award!

The Winner of Chef Stagiaire Award 2018 will win an all expenses paid international working holiday which includes 4 weeks at 3 Michelin star Benu in San Francisco, under Chef Patron Corey Lee, then another 2 amazing weeks at Six Senses Zil Pasyon in the Seychelles, a breath-taking, luxury 6 star resort.

 

#talent

#stagiaire2018

 

0800 012 6949

awards@chefstagiaire.com

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OLIVER DOVEY – FINALIST PRIZE DIARY – PART #4 – SIX SENSES ZIL PAYSON

Oliver Dovey

Six Senses Zil Payson, Seychelles – Diary 2017

Part 2

Day 13

Today is my first official day of holiday. Woop Woop!! I spent the time enjoying my swimming pool,six-senses eating in a lot of the restaurants. I was given a guided tour of the whole island including the private residences and the mountain experience where clientele can have a meal on the top of the mountain enjoying the beautiful sunset.

It was so relaxing and a break from normal day to day life as a chef, and without a doubt the most luxurious moments of my life to date.

 

Day 14

On my second day off I went to one of the private beaches, and enjoyed my time swimming in the sea. The whole cove was covered with baby sharks, so I spent the time swimming with these tiny sharks. It was a hidden cove which you can swim to around a large rock to get to, but it was secluded and very private. It was nice to enjoy the privacy.

I went and enjoyed the Thai night in the restaurant, with some of my friends serving and cooking for me.

Day 15

ratatouilleOn my final day off I went island hopping, going between the closest islands to Felicitie and just enjoying my time as a tourist. I went to some of the best beaches in the world with the clearest blue water and ash white sand. It was very surreal, something you would see on a postcard and an incredible thing to experience first hand.

I spent the entire day going between all the islands and when I got back to Felicitie I was exhausted. it was one of the best days I have ever had.

 

Day 16 Leaving

Today is a sad day; I started packing my whole room away, saying goodbye to all my friends and the people who have become very special to me whilst I was here.

It is an experience that I can never, and will never forget. I learned so much from Bordeaux to Seychelles, I worked in some amazing places with people who I know I will be in contact with for many years to come. I was invited back, and I have every intention to take them up on the offer, if not for a job but to see my friends and have such an amazing experience again.

When I got to the first airport I was delighted to see the Restaurant Manager there as he was leaving to go on holiday!! We enjoyed a plane trip together and the connecting flight for Abu Dhabi.

I will never forget the lessons, the experience or the people that Chef Stagiaire has provided me with and I hope to work closely with them during my career and when I get a restaurant of my own.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone involved.item_404_file1

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OLIVER DOVEY – FINALIST PRIZE DIARY – PART #3 – SIX SENSES ZIL PAYSON

Oliver Dovey

Six Senses Zil Payson, Seychelles – Diary 2017

Part 1

Day 1 – Arrival

Today I landed in the Seychelles after 19 hours of travelling. I stopped off at London, Abu Dhabi, Mahe, Praline and then finally Six Senses. Landing in the Seychelles was magical, as I looked out of the window you could see how clear and blue the sea is.

I was picked up from the airport and driving to the port of Mahe island where I waited for my first boat. When I got to Praline I was quickly snapped up by the six senses team and put on their private speed boat to be taken to the hotel. When I arrived the executive chef and the general manager were waiting by the jetty to welcome me.

The Executive Chef Richard took me on a tour around the island. It is amazing not only the views, the sunsets and the nature but also what six senses has managed to do on the island. they are 95% self-sufficient, making their own drinking water, electricity, gas, they have their own recycling plant and they even produce their own bio fuel. I was taken up to my staff accommodation, as they were a general manager short I was given the executive’s staff accommodation, which was like a suit! it was at the top of the mountain, so I had an amazing view right across the island and out to sea.Oliver hard at work in the Seychelles

Day 2 – Sushi Night

So today was my first day in the kitchen. I was shown around meeting everyone and explained how it works. As it is a remote island the guests rely on us 100% for food. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, boat trips, parties anything they want they shall receive.

I was set to help their Sushi Chef with preparation for that evening as it was Sushi Night. I cannot count how many I made but I learnt how to make them one to one with a very experienced Chef. For service we set up on their chef’s table in the restaurant interacting with the customers and making fresh Sushi and Sashimi constantly. One customer asked if he could have a photo with both the chef and I, so we posed and then we went on to teach him how to make Sushi. It felt amazing using the knowledge I had only learnt hours ago to teach someone else how to do it.

Day 3 – BBQ night

Today in the evening a BBQ and movie night were planned for the customers. I spent the day going between the larder section where we made all the complex salads, to go with the BBQ. I worked on fish section breaking down the lobsters, shrimps and crabs as well as the meat section preparing dry-aged rib eyes, pork cutlets and lamb spiced lamb.

During the BBQ it was again set up outside next to the restaurant. the customers would come and ask for specific items which they would then pass to me (doing meat) and Billi (doing the fish) where we would marinade and cook to their liking

BuffetDay 4 – Tali

Today was the Tali night so i spent the whole day working on the Indian section making curry pastes, roti’s, sauces and drinks.

The dishes were mainly based on Bangladeshi cuisine which I have not experienced before so it was a whole new learning experiences talking and understanding their flavour combinations and how to balance the spices.

During the Tali service I was working on the main courses, cooking the assortment of curries, dahls, rice’s and sauces as well as making fresh poppadum’s.

Day 5 – Creole

Today I was working in the ocean kitchen in their creole restaurant. As I have never experienced traditional creole food it was a brand-new experience to me.scallops

How they prepared food, cooked it, presented it and even the flavour matching. They use local ingredients all farmed from that island or the surrounding islands, so it was a great experience working with food that was so fresh.

They caught me many tricks that I have never heard before which I shall be taking forward with me in my future career.

During services I was working between the starter and the main course which consisted of a palm heart salad with sweetened green mango, crevice of tuna. The main course was an octopus curry which was sweet and very citric or fresh fish BBQ.

Day 6

Today was my day off so I took the boat over to Praslin island with the sous chef, we went around the island taking me to beaches. we also went and visited the coco de mare tree which grows that largest nut in the world that can only be grown on this specific island. It was surrounded by police and guards as it is a popular place for poachers as each nut sells from £500 per unit, minimum.

Day 7 – Thai night

Today was one of the nights I was looking forward to the most as I have a great love for Thai cuisine as well as I have spent many summers there. I was working with their Thai chef.

We made all the food for that evening, Thai curries, salads, roasted rice powders, curry pastes for pad Thai and many more dishes.

I felt very comfortable on this section as I have cooked a lot of Thai food myself. The service was busier than usual, and we completely sold out on everything, with many compliments coming back to the kitchen.

Day 8 – Lobster Night

lobsterToday was their fine dining lobster tasting menu. It was based in ocean kitchen again with the creole chefs so everything with creole influenced. As I have spent my whole career in fine dining it was the most comfortable felt.

To start was a gazpacho of melon with dill oil. The second course was poached lobster wrapped in nori served with crispy nori, avocado croquette, lemongrass panna cotta and fresh pomegranate.

The next course was grilled lobster served with sweetened mango and coriander infused rice. The dessert was a chocolate fondant.

It was the style of food I was used to and the busy stressful service that I crave for.

Day 9 – Bakery

Today was my first day on the pastry section. I started early in the morning making the breads from fresh, shaping all of the breads and working with their signature sour dough.

I also made croissants and muffins from fresh for the breakfast. Next, I helped with the pastry preparation for that night, making the creme brulee, panna cottas and all the amenities for the rooms.

In the evening I helped with the services, making the fresh butter, cooking the breads and plating the desserts. I have a love hate relationship with pastry, when I do it for so long I hate it but when I don’t do it I love it and I miss it. So it was a great relief to do some pastry work!!

Day 10 – Pastry/Sushi Night

Today I was working with the pastry team. I made their ice creams and sorbets and the breads again during the day. They have such a talented team base, because it was coming to Halloween they had a pumpkin carving competition. The pastry sous chef is a competition winning cake chef so he was carving the pumpkin. He was working for 30 minutes on it and it was the best one I have ever seen. so detailed and obviously a very talented chef.

It was sushi night again, this time I was working with the pastry again plating all their desserts but when we had no orders I would run downstairs to help the sushi chef.

Day 11

Today is the start to my holiday, I packed my bags and I was picked up at 9 in the morning. I was brought straight to my room and told I am now a guest for the remaining time on the island. I was full board so I had everything for free and I could enjoy all of the facilities which was amazing!!

The room was massive, my own dressing room, a modern bathroom. my own private pool and dining area. I was given the sunset room, so I had the best view of the sunset as it sets between two islands on the horizon.

This afternoon I went to the national Seychelles fishing competition which was sponsored by the hotel. In total the hotel took 5 tonnes of the best fish, mainly consisting of Yellow fin tuna and massive red snappers. The experience was wonderful as it was only the executive chef and the butcher, we had to inspect each fish and made sure it met the standard required for the clientele

Day 12

Today was my last day working. as I was working in the afternoon I enjoyed a nice long sleep with an amazing breakfast. I spent some time in my pool and exploring a bit around the island.

In the afternoon I helped unload all of the fish that had be caught yesterday and we started the long process of filleting 5 tonnes of yellow fin tuna, kingfish, jobfish and red snapper. I have had quite a lot of experience on the fish section, so I was very comfortable, but it gave me a lot of time to hone and improve my skills.

In the evening I went down to the restaurant and enjoyed a nice meal while watching a film in the open-air cinema which they had. In the evening I went and joined my friends from within the hotel at the staff accommodations and we had a celebration of my last day working.

To be continued…

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Oliver Dovey – Finalist Prize Diary – Part #2 – Les Sources de Caudalie

WEEK 2

Chef Stagiaire Award 2017 – Diary of my trip to Les Sources de Caudalie, Bordeaux

Day 1

caviarToday was my first day in the 2 Michelin star kitchen! I have to say I was a bit daunted, but from what I saw last week I thought I could hold my own in there. I was put on the garnish section with Lawrence. I helped him with general preparation including their vegetarian tart which consisted of thinly sliced courgette and tomato arranged in a flower fashion. It was a time consuming process but a really beautiful look on the final dish. The service was very hard, even though they did not have a high number of customers, it was still a new menu to me, and again obviously, everyone was speaking French, but I was getting better at understanding and translating everything into my tasks.

Day 2

Today I was working on the garnish section again. The chef started to develop a new dish for the menu which included a duxelle made entirely from Cep mushrooms. Being from England I have not seen thistartar many Ceps in one place as they are so expensive!! I made a ravioli with this duxelle, with a lovely Chicken jus inside so when it was cut open the liquid oozed out. The service was a lot better today as I managed to link a lot of words with words that I learnt while I was working in Greece. A lot of the names of the courses were very similar in Greek as in French so as soon as I picked that up I found the service a lot easier and smoother.

Day 3

Today I work on the larder section, preparing Lobsters and making their green Tomato granite. I also prepared a few Crabs and the Canapes. I helped prepare the stuffed Courgette flowers which were filled with a Langoustine mousse which was deliciously smooth. During the service I was working on the Canape section, serving Oysters with a cucumber foam and Oyster leaf, a brown cap mushroom filled with Ceps and covered in a Parmesan crust which was then lightly grilled. The second round of Canapes that the guests enjoyed was a Beef tartar which was smoked and sent to the table in a glass dome for theatrical effect, which really worked.

Day 4

Larder again today. I felt a lot more confidence now. I was doing similar preparation as the day before.ARTICHOKES Today I also helped prepare their angry egg dish which was a soft boiled duck egg which was then pannéd using thinly cut filo pastry so when it was fried it came up and gave an amazing visual aspect. I also stuffing their baby Artichokes which was another Canape. It was a very time consuming job because turning and cooking the artichokes took a while. Then the centre had to be scooped out, filled with crushed artichokes and then pannéd using green bread crumbs [speak to a chef about how to make green bread crumbs!!]. During service I was moving between the garnish section and the Canapes, helping cook the egg and artichoke dish.

Day 5

Today a new dish came onto the menu which included Venison and the Cep pasta. I helped make the Ravioli for the lunch and dinner service. I was doing general jobs for all sections today. I made some more tarts, prepared the Leeks for the Turbot dish, sources de caudalieI prepared a lot of shellfish. During the service I was helping every section, moving everywhere. It felt so smooth and I could feel a massive improvement in myself firstly for understanding the language and also for reading the situation and knowing which dishes were up next on the list of priorities. I was very sad to leave because I thoroughly enjoyed my whole experience here. It is a memory that I will genuinely cherish. I was invited to go back and work whenever I want which I have every intention to take up whenever possible.

It was an amazing learning experience, I loved the creativity and overall the kitchens here are a perfect working environment. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all at Les Sources de Caudalie.

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