Tilda Chef of the Year returns with live cook-off at Hotelympia

The Staff Canteen
Tilda is inviting experienced chefs to showcase their culinary skills and creative flair by taking part in the 2016 Tilda Chef of the Year competition. 18_tildachefoftheyear2010Now in its fourth event, the prestigious biennial competition is run in conjunction with the Craft Guild of Chefs and culminates with a live cook-off at Hotelympia’s Salon Culinaire Live Theatre on 2nd March 2016 at London’s ExCeL. The 60 minute contest will challenge chefs to prepare, cook and present two portions of a main course dish which reflects and celebrates world cuisine, and two portions of a dessert, using rice in both courses. Competitors will be able to choose from any of the following Tilda range: Easy Cook Basmati, Brown Basmati, Fragrant Jasmine, Arborio Risotto, Original Pure Basmati, and Basmati & Wild. Mark Lyddy, Tilda's Head of Foodservice, said: “We're extremely delighted to be running Tilda Chef of the Year again in partnership with the Craft Guild of Chefs. Coming up to its fourth occasion, the competition is a fantastic opportunity for chefs to pit their cooking skills, presentation techniques and creativity against the very best the industry has to offer, and I am confident this year we will see even more talented chefs take up the challenge in a bid to be crowned Tilda Chef of the Year.”winner_of_tilda_chef_of_the_year_2012_at_hotelympia_2012_danny_leung_lexington_caterer_head_chef_and_mark_lyddy_head_of_foodservice_tilda low res As well as scooping the prestigious title the winner will be awarded a fantastic two-day culinary trip to Italy. A new prize for 2016, the educational visit offers the newly crowned Tilda Chef of the Year a unique opportunity to discover first-hand the origins of Tilda’s renowned Arborio risotto rice, its unrivalled cooking qualities and its deserved place in Italian cuisine. To lay claim to the title and prize, competitors must impress head judge Steve Munkley who is the executive chef at the Royal Garden Hotel Kensington and has recently been appointed new Chef Director, Salon Culinaire. Steve said: “Tilda Chef of the Year has always set the bar very high and this year we'll be looking for chefs that take cooking with rice to the next level. "The competition is a great platform for anyone wanting to further their career and, with the addition this year of a study trip to Italy, the winner will be able to further their understanding of cooking with rice too, as well as gain a host of knowledge that they can take back and use within their workplace. We look forward to seeing what today's generation of chefs are capable of in the kitchen.” The deadline for entries to the competition is Friday 27th November.

>>>Find out more and to enter Tilda Chef of the Year here

In these challenging times…

The Staff Canteen team are taking a different approach to keeping our website independent and delivering content free from commercial influence. Our Editorial team have a critical role to play in informing and supporting our audience in a balanced way. We would never put up a paywall  – The Staff Canteen is open to all and we want to keep bringing you the content you want; more from younger chefs, more on mental health, more tips and industry knowledge, more recipes and more videos. We need your support right now, more than ever, to keep The Staff Canteen active. Without your financial contributions this would not be possible.

Over the last 16 years, The Staff Canteen has built what has become the go-to platform for chefs and hospitality professionals. As members and visitors, your daily support has made The Staff Canteen what it is today. Our features and videos from the world’s biggest name chefs are something we are proud of. We have over 560,000 followers across Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and other social channels, each connecting with chefs across the world. Our editorial and social media team are creating and delivering engaging content every day, to support you and the whole sector - we want to do more for you.

A single coffee is more than £2, a beer is £4.50 and a large glass of wine can be £6 or more.

Support The Staff Canteen from as little as £1 today. Thank you.

The Staff Canteen

The Staff Canteen

Editor 8th October 2015

Tilda Chef of the Year returns with live cook-off at Hotelympia