Champagne Taittinger has announced that Tom Scade from The Ritz has won the UK National Final of the 51st Le Taittinger Prix Culinaire International competition this Saturday evening. Fighting off strong competition from Quentin Plateaux from Roux at the Landau and James Sleep from White’s Club, at Roux at Parliament Square, UK Presidential Judge, Michel Roux Jr, and Champagne Taittinger’s Marketing Director, Vitalie Taittinger, revealed Tom as the winner at this evening’s celebration.
The three finalists each had to prepare their classic dish on a theme chosen by the organising committee, which this year was on a roast stuffed rack of farmhouse pork. Ingredients were chosen from a supplied list and dishes prepared on the day. They were also tasked with preparing a second dish on the day based on a theme chosen by Michel Roux Jr. This year this dish was Treacle Tart with a garnish of your choice but not ice-cream or sorbet.
All UK finalists received a Jeroboam of Champagne Taittinger and Tom Scade received £2,000 and a trophy. He will now go forward to compete in the International Final to be held in Paris on 20th November, where he will be joined by the winners from Japan, France, Holland, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.
Comments Vitalie Taittinger “This year’s competition has been the toughest yet, the standards are so high and you need to be on the top of your game to win. Congratulations to Tom for winning tonight. He fought off very strong competition and I look forward to seeing him in Paris for the final.”
The competition, which was set up 51 years ago, is open to chefs between the ages of 24 and 39, with over five years’ experience. Often referred to as the ‘Everest of Gastronomy’, it demonstrates Champagne Taittinger’s commitment to the promotion of young, upcoming chefs. Seven countries will host national finals, including the UK final.
Michel Roux Jr headed up the panel of ten top chefs from leading Michelin Star restaurants as Presidential Judge for the UK for the third year running. The other judges were Rachel Humphrey from Le Gavroche; Romuald Feger from the Four Seasons Park Lane; Michael Wignall from Gidleigh Park, Simon Hulstone from the Elephant Restaurant; French judge Gerard Macqueron; Mark Flanagan, Head Chef to the Royal household; Arnaud Bignon of The Greenhouse; Pascal Aussignac from Club Gascon; Steve Groves from Roux at Parliament Square; Claude Bosi from Bibendum and Mike Reid from M Restaurants.
Champagne Taittinger is available through sole UK agent Hatch Mansfield, tel. 01344 871 800.
www.taittinger.com / @TaittingerUK
http://prixculinaire.taittinger.fr
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