Winner of Britain’s Best Brigade announced

Essential Cuisine travelled to Warwickshire’s Heritage Motor Centre last week to officially crown its in-house chef team as Britain’s Best Brigade for 2015.

The winning brigade were awarded a trophy , a £1000 cheque alongside a glace masterclass from Essential Cuisine development chef Jonathan Harvey-Barnes followed by a tapas tour de force from the specially invited chef patron of El Gato Negro Manchester, Simon Shaw.

The Heritage Motor Centre won after their A-Team-themed video saw off seven other regional finalists after almost 1000 votes were cast in Essential Cuisine’s nationwide competition to celebrate the togetherness and cooking prowess of chef teams across the UK.

With the seven-strong Heritage Motor Centre team catering for anything from 20-seater VIP dinners to 500-strong gala celebrations, reception food such as canapés and hors d'oeuvres are an integral part of their menus. A specialist in modern and traditional Spanish flavours and techniques, and chef patron of acclaimed tapas restaurant El Gato Negro Manchester,

Simon Shaw’s masterclass was designed to demonstrate a number of tapas dishes that could translate perfectly.

Essential Cuisine’s very own Jonathan Harvey Barnes was also on hand to deliver a masterclass in the Stock People’s super concentrated and highly versatile Glace range.
Jonathan showed how simple layers of flavour, through additions such as cream, could help take sauces to different dimensions.

Crucially, Jonathan was able to show the products’ superb stability and consistency – making it perfect for the large-scale banqueting and event catering needs of the Heritage Motor Centre team.

Talking about the masterclass Simon Shaw commented: “It’s been amazing, as soon as I was asked to do it I jumped at it – to meet the team here and for us to get on so well was great. The overall feel of the day was extremely relaxed which really helped and gave me the scope to showcase a range of techniques and products that I use every day in El Gato Negro – giving the Heritage Motor Centre team something tangible they can use in their operation going forward.”

Heritage Motor Centre Head Chef, Paul Kelly added: “The masterclass was brilliant, totally different to anything we’ve done before, we’ve met new people, tasted new foods and seen new techniques – it’s great for all the team to be involved – the best bunch of lads in the country – and a fitting end to the journey.”

To see the heritage Motor Centre’s winning video below:

Essential Cuisine’s search for Britain’s Best Brigade returns in 2016. If your chef team has the determination, drive and togetherness to succeed, register your early interest by emailing Lucy – lucy@essentialcuisine.com