Royal Academy of Culinary Arts reveals Annual Awards of Excellence 2018 finalists

The Royal Academy of Culinary has revealed the names of its Annual Awards of Excellence (AAE) 2018 finalists.

The AAE is an examination rather than a competition, where all or none of the candidates could achieve the award. All who successfully reach the standard set by the judges will win the AAE, and the candidate who scores the most marks in their section will be named the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Young Chef, Young Pastry Chef or Young Waiter 2018.

Since it began in 1983, more than 550 young professionals have achieved the award, which aims to inspire and encourage young professionals and offer them guidelines for success in their career.

Chefs can be tested on a variety of food preparation and cookery tasks, while pastry chefs are expected to demonstrate the ability to work with different materials. Waiters are tested on their knowledge and skills in a wide range of food and beverage service aspects.

The finals will take place on 14 May at Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester in London (service), 6 June at the University of West London (kitchen), and 19 June at University College Birmingham (pastry). Judges include the honorary president of the AAE 2018, Jason Atherton, chef-patron of the Social Company; and chairman of the AAE John Williams, executive chef of the Ritz London.

The finalists are:

KITCHEN FINALISTS
Sam Brennan, the Woodspeen, Berkshire
Amy Dahlstrom, the Pig hotel, Brockenhurst, Hampshire
Mae Domino, Restaurant Hywel Jones at Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa, near Bath
Connor Farrer, the Ritz London
Faye De Souza, Restaurant Associates, Deloitte
Andrew Jenkinson, Restaurant Hywel Jones at Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa, near Bath
Alessandro Molica, White's Club, London
Joshua Murphy, Restaurant Hywel Jones at Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa, near Bath
Antonio Puca, Royal Lancaster London
Frederick Smith, the Pig on the Beach, Dorset
Jade Stevens, Restaurant Hywel Jones at Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa, near Bath
Andrew Tratner, Trinity, London

PASTRY FINALISTS
Julia Anderson, Pennyhill Park, Surrey
Sophie Bamford, 21, Newcastle
Nicholas Bentley, Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons, Oxfordshire
Bastien Carriou, Harrods, London
Salomé Chapier, Yauatcha, Soho, London
Richard Alexander Ellis, Yauatcha, Soho, London
Nikola Krikavova, Hakkasan, London
Erika Mol, Coworth Park, Berkshire

SERVICE FINALISTS
Dimitri Auriant, Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, London
Alessandro Bello, the Ritz London
Catarina Caldeira, the Vineyard Hotel and Spa, Stockross, Berkshire
Eleanor Dimes, Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa, near Bath
Elizabeth Forkuoh, the Strathearn at Gleneagles, Perthshire
Giovanna Gucciardo, Le Gavroche, London
Valerija Kirjackaja, the Ritz London
Ryan Kenyon, André Garrett at Cliveden House, Berkshire
Marion Le Bars, L'Enclume, Cumbria
Gwennolé Le Bras, Sketch Lecture Room and Library, London
Alistair McColm, Trump Turnberry, a Luxury Collection Resort, Ayrshire
Marion Pépin, Core by Clare Smyth, London
Natalie Pope, Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons, Oxfordshire
Alana Quigley, Gleneagles, Perthshire
Andrea Saccogna, the Woodspeen, Berkshire
Bethan Sampson, Pollen Street Social, London

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