The team of 17 Compass chefs out-cooked 26 other teams to claim fifth place overall at the Culinary Olympics held in Stuggartt last month.
Robin Mills, managing director at Compass Group UK & Ireland, commented: “We’re incredibly proud of what our Compass chefs have achieved at the Culinary Olympics this year.
“The judges’ comments from the Regional Culinary Arts Cold Buffet were very complimentary and with all the work we do as a business around the environment, it is fantastic to see this being reflected in our competition work.
“To mastermind such a display and be recognised on the international stage to secure a gold and top five position in the world is an outstanding achievement.
“As a people-focused company, I hope this result inspires many of our chefs, who are the heart of our business and these results highlight the exceptional culinary skills of our brigades.”
Compass won gold in the Regional Culinary Arts Buffet competition where they showcased local produce from around the UK. The Agricultural and Horticultural Development board supplied the tenderloin of Suffolk pork and team artist Terry Greenhouse created the chocolate centrepiece.
The foraged ‘Some Call me Nature’ display included dishes such as hebridean cold smoked & cured Scottish salmon, chalk stream trout galette with dill & horseradish mousse, Jerusalem artichoke solferino & crisp, sea fennel & parsley stalk salad with an antsina vinaigrette stole the show.
One of the judges said: “It was inspirational to see a team truly embrace what is currently going on in the world and its importance.
“I have judged all over the world and I have never seen anyone present a Buffet concept like this, the team really have a great understand[ing] of what is currently happening to our planet and how looking after what nature provides is so important.”
The Regional Culinary Arts Buffet team included:
- Team captain: Barry Fleming, executive chef, ESS
- Team Artist: Terry Greenhouse, Levy UK
- Women in Food Ambassador: Gemma Evans-Hurley, Eurest
- Chef: Gordon Mackenzie, ESS
- Chef: Allen Townsend, Levy UK
- Chef: David Auchie, ESS
- Kevin Rocks, ESS
- Stephen Ben, ESS
- Chris Macleod, ESS
- Jamie Kimmett, ESS
- Women in Food Ambassador Ana Paula Oliver, Restaurant Associates