Núnez (left) won over judges with initiative shown while working in the five-star hotel's kitchen, including suggesting a new storage solution that reduced breakages.
“He has a work ethic that cannot be compared,” said Mark Surguy, manager of The Stafford. “He’s always smiling, he holds himself and every member of his team to the highest standards. Nothing is ever too much for him.”
Surguy arranged for a special ‘team meeting’ at the hotel where Núnez was presented with his winning trophy.
“I’m very surprised but happy to win this award and it was great to have my colleagues with me,” said Núnez.
For his win, Núnez received a trophy, £1000 in cash, a celebratory meal with friends and a new kitchen appliance for The Stafford from Winterhalter, the awards sponsor.
The judges gave awards to three other ‘highly commended’ kitchen porters- Daniel Gligorov of the White Hart at Fyfield; Bayani Balba, of One Great George Street, Westminster; and Banjamin Berany, from The Vineyard, Newbury.
Judges included James Horler, chief executive of Ego Restaurants and director of Patisserie Valerie, Sara Jayne Stanes, chief executive of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and Hayden Groves, executive chef for BaxterStorey.