In the UK, Compass has won in excess of 100 awards this year in various culinary competitions.
One fine example is the winning of the highly prestigious ‘London Chef of the Year 2009’ award by Ben Ford, held at Westminster Kingsway College. Ben impressed the judges with the high standard of his menu and the ease of his culinary skills in the kitchen. Currently working as head chef at Compass House, the global headquarters of Compass Group, the talented chef is also studying for a Foundation Degree in Culinary Arts at Westminster Kingsway College.
During the competition, the chefs were tasked with cooking a four-course meal of their own choice, which had to include a starter using under utilised seafood, a lamb main course and chocolate dessert. The entrants had a strict two and half hours time limit in which to prepare and present their chosen dishes. Ben will now be taking the trip of a lifetime to New York to experience working in a top Michelin restaurant as part of his prize.
In another example of culinary success, Daniel Cox became the first ever winner from the contract food service market of the Roux Scholarship. As part of his scholarship, Daniel was delighted to have the opportunity in 2009 to train with Santi Santamaria at the legendary Can Fabes Restaurant in Barcelona. Over the course of his 3 months in Spain, Daniel developed a great respect for simplicity and the intensity of truly fresh ingredients and is currently working on an exciting new restaurant venture with Michel Roux Jr.