Ben Murphy to replace Russell Bateman as Graduate Awards Chairman of Examiners for Kitchen
Ben Muprhy from Launceston Place will replace Russell Bateman who has held the role of Gradutae awards chairman of examiners for kitchen for the last five years.
Discussing his appointment, Ben revealed why he took up the position and the importance of supporting the next generation of young industry talent.
He explained: "I wanted to do it because I feel I'm in a position where I can give back to the industry, especially everything I've learned, inspire younger chefs getting them involved to join the industry, which is the most important thing right now beecause it's all about the younger generation."
When asked what he will bring to the role, Ben told us: "I feel the experience that I've had competing in competitions can bring out a modern approach to it as well as still staying within and maintaining the classic method or cooking or what I learned."
Ben was quick to note the success of his predecessor Russell explaining that he "had a lot to live up to," adding that it would be learning curve and would help with his future personal development.
"I'm Super Proud"
Speaking publicly to participants at this year’s Graduate Awards, Russell praised the success of the event and the involvement of young chefs, event sponsors and mentors.
Commenting on this Russell said: “What stands out for me every year is how much work that first of all the sponsors put into it supporting us, we couldn't do it without them, but the main thing is the chefs, the young chefs, and their mentors, because without the mentors pushing them, guiding them, encouraging them, and showing them the way forward, this process wouldn't happen.”
Looking back at his time as Chairman, Russell thanked the Craft Guild of Chefs for appointing him to the role, stating that: “I'm super proud to have been asked by Steve [Munkley] to be the chairman of the examiner.”
He added: “It's so important that we put our faith in young people just like somebody but their faith in us once and they allowed us to grow and allowed us to achieve things.”
Our chief examiners for the 20th anniversary of the Graduate Awards will be @RussellBateman in the Kitchen Award and @willtorrent for the Pastry Award. They are appealing to all chefs aged under 25 to put themselves forward. Enter online here today >> https://t.co/bClV5j3BOA pic.twitter.com/nqN2D8iKny
— Craft Guild of Chefs (@Craft_Guild) March 24, 2022
A NEW DIRECTION
Ben enters this role offering a wealth of knowledge and experience essential for the next generation of professional chefs.
Before joining Launceston Place as Head Chef in January 2017, Ben previously worked at the Woodford in East London, where he was named ‘Chef to Watch’ by The Good Food Guide, and earned the title of ‘Breakthrough Chef of the Year’ at the Food & Travel Awards.
Referred to as one of London’s most exciting young chefs, Ben started his cooking career straight from Westminster Kingsway College to work with one of the culinary greats – chef Pierre Koffmann – at Koffmann’s at The Berkeley.
Pierre has remained a mentor to Ben, and that relationship has helped to nurture his own distinctive, often playful, style of modern European cooking.
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