5th Oct 2007 - 00:00
Abstract
Niche London contractor Vacherin came out ahead from among the UK's major contract caterers when they competed in the Association of Catering Excellence (ACE) Ready Steady Cook Team challenge.
Held at Imperial College, the winning duo of Alan Eggleston and Nick Smith triumphed in the competition that saw each of the 15 teams of two given a box of mystery ingredients from which they had to produce a main course and dessert within 30 minutes. Their winning menu offered Pan fried Supreme of Halibut, Thai Style followed by Fruity Tutti – Trio of Toffee Apple, Thyme Fromage Frais, Mille-Feuille of Roast Fig & Plums, Blackberry Milkshake & Blackberry Spiedini. Second place went to Mark Easterman and Leo Rodley of the In House Catering Company, who prepared Shepherd's Pie with Aubergine and Green Bean Tian followed by a dessert of Fig and Apple Compote with a Blackberry Coulis served with a Sweet Chilli & Basil Butterscotch Latte. Third Place went to Daniel O'Connell and Anne Troalen from Aramark who served Poached Halibut with Olive Potatoes and Tomato Citrus Dressing and Stir Fried Squid followed by a dessert of Caramelised Apple and Thyme Compote with Blackberry Cream ACE chairman Norman Deas said: "The competition has, over the years, become seriously competitive between the various teams. "This year it was watched by over 300 people." The winning Vacherin team of Eggleston and Smith received trophies, certificates, champagne as well as vouchers for a dinner for two at the new Wild Honey Restaurant. The mystery ingredients included rump of lamb, supreme of halibut, squid, aubergine, courgette, sugar snap peas, shallots, cooking apples, blackberries, figs, butter, flour, balsamic vibegar, red and white wine, red chilli, garlic, basil, coriander and thyme. Teams from the following contract caterers took part: BaxterStorey (Oliver Geyer and Wayne Baptiste), OCS (Karl Woonsam and Dennis Cowap), Lexington (Danny Leung and Sam Potter), Restaurant Associates (Robbie Meadows and Simon Webb), In House (Leo Rodley and Mark Easterman), Holroyd Howe (Paul Murphy and James Blackwell), Elior (Mark Crowe and Hayden Groves), Vacherin (Alan Eggleston and Nick Smith), Harbour & Jones (Steve Power and Kyron Tobin), Aramark (Daniel O'Connell and Anne Troalen), Charlton House (Lloyd Mann and Jamie Higgs), Wilson Vale (Robbie Lamb and Steve Smith), Eaton Fine Dining (Chris Oddie and John Carroll), Houses of Parliament (Dominique Ashford and Nick Munting), Bartlett Mitchell (Mel O'Brien and David Jobe). For more information about ACE visit: www.acegb.org