Industry greats pay tribute to Victor Ceserani
Leading chefs, restaurateurs and hoteliers came together last week at St Michael's Church, Bray, and the nearby Waterside Inn, to honour industry icon Victor Ceserani MBE.
Ceserani, one of the country's foremost catering educationalists, passed away in February, aged 97.
Among the captains of industry who celebrated his life were fellow Practical Cookery authors Ronald Kinton, Professor David Foskett and John Campbell; 15 Roux Scholars, hoteliers Willy Bauer, Harry Murray and Terry Holmes; distinguished cookery writer Frances Bissell; and celebrated chefs Michel Roux Sr, Alain Roux, Michael Nadell, Richard Shepherd, Brian Turner, Rick Stein and Simon Hopkinson.
"I got to know Victor when we sat on the Roux Scholarship team. His sage words always seemed to clarify the point in question and his advice will have helped many of today's star chefs to become â¨the success they are today."
Foskett added: "Victor was never an 'old, wise man' - he was a wise man with a young mind, and someone I always went to for advice.
"He strongly believed in education, but education that was useful, practical and applied, which developed the intellect. His life and work transformed so many and has left us with this legacy that can be handed on to generations to come."