Chef heavyweights support Team UK in Bocuse d’Or competition

The Bocuse d’Or UK Academy has recruited chef heavyweights to help boost Team UK in the prestigious biennial Bocuse d’Or championship.

André Garrett, Diego Masciaga, Hrishikesh Desai, Lisa Goodwin-Allen and Matt Abé have all been appointed as ambassadors to the academy. They will lend their support through interviews and social media as well as participating in fundraising events.

Andreas Antona, chair of Bocuse d’Or UK Academy, said: “The Bocuse d’Or Team is growing, and we are delighted and hugely grateful to have such an impressive set of individuals giving us their backing.

"With André, Hrishikesh, Lisa and Matt we now have some of the best chef talent in the country and Diego is a hospitality legend whose influence and passion will help us in our bid to give the contest the industry support it deserves.”

André Garrett is executive chef at Corinthia Hotel London, overseeing the Northall Restaurant and competed in the Bocuse d’Or in 2007 when he finished in tenth.

Diego Masciaga is the renowned former director and general manager of the Waterside Inn in Bray. He was awarded Italy’s equivalent of a knighthood and won the Cateys Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

Hrishikesh Desai is executive chef at Gilpin Hotel & Lake House where he secured a Michelin star. He’s was the 2009 Roux Scholar, won the Craft Guild of Chefs' Chef of the Year award 2010 and has a degree from the Institut Paul Bocuse.

Lisa Goodwin-Allen is executive chef at the Michelin-starred Northcote in Lancashire. She is the winner of The Hotel Cateys Hotel Chef of the Year under 250 covers 2019 award.

The Bocuse d’Or was founded in 1987 by French chef Paul Bocuse, who is celebrated for his innovative approach to cuisine and is now the largest culinary competition in the world.

Ian Musgrave sous chef at Ritz London will represent Team UK having won the UK heat in November 2019 and will compete in the European heats in June. The world final will be held in Lyon, in January 2021.