Since Winterhalter launched the competition seven years ago it has given hundreds of businesses the chance to show their appreciation for the vital work that kitchen porters do.
Many chefs including Paul Ainsworth of Number 6 and Chris McGowan of Wine & Brine began their careers as kitchen porters.
Ainsworth said: “To be able to celebrate kitchen porters is great – the [Kitchen Porter] of the Year is a brilliant idea.”
The ten finalists are:
- Edwin Ballogan, kitchen porter and maintenance manager, Cookery School at Little Portland Street, London
- Debbie Dale, kitchen Porter, Beachcroft Hotels, West Sussex
- Sam Idubol, chief steward, Royal Air Force Club, London
- Dauda Issa, head kitchen porter, Hide Ground, London
- Davie Fleetham, kitchen assistant, BaxterStorey, Edinburgh
- Amanda Lunn, kitchen porter, Compass Group, Craigavon, Northern Ireland
- Henryk Miekina, senior kitchen porter, the Cavendish, London
- Cheryl Macdonald, kitchen porter, Jurys Inn, Middlesbrough
- Daniel Ndaruhutse, back of house kitchen porter, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London
- John O’Connell, stable kitchen porter, the Stable, London
The judging panel includes Lisa Jenkins, products and suppliers editor of The Caterer, Richard Davies chef at the Calcot Hotel & Spa and Stephen Kinkead the managing director of Winterhalter UK.
Davies said: “The KP of the Year is such a fantastic award and the competition is getting tougher each year. Having seen how much it meant to my KP Stevie when he won, it really does help to recognise all their hard work and efforts.”
Winterhalter also organises an annual ‘KP Day’ which celebrates the work of kitchen porters. For each picture shared on twitter £1 will be donated to Hospitality Action.
Kinkead added: “We’ve had six winners of this competition now and it’s been fantastic to see how the contest highlights the job that KPs do. Back-breaking work that deserves due recognition.”