Sodexo chef Michael Godfrey accepted into Disciples d'Escoffier
Sodexo executive head chef Michael Godfrey has been accepted into the Disciples d'Escoffier.
Godfrey, who heads the catering team at Eton College, was accepted into the prestigious international culinary order for his "commitment to promote our industry and to support the development of the profession".
He joins a stellar line-up of UK disciples that includes Raymond Blanc, Brian Turner, Anton Mosimann and Gary Rhodes, as well as David Foskett, who was Godfrey's tutor at university.
The Disciples d'Escoffier promotes the work of Auguste Escoffier, the French chef who developed the modern kitchen system and wrote the Complete Guide to the Art of Modern Cookery, which is still referenced today.
Godfrey commented: "It is a brilliant honour and one I don't take lightly. I was chuffed to bits. There was a chef aged 78 being invested at the same time. To be on stage with him at the age of 44 was humbling."
Jacques Pascier, president of Disciples d'Escoffier UK, said to Godfrey: "For many years you have shown your commitment to promote our industry and to support the development of the profession in its various aspects. We believe that all those years of hard work and your constant motivation deserve to be recognised and rewarded."
A training manager for Team UK in the WorldSkills competition, Godfrey received his sash and certificate from Michael Escoffier, great grandson of the order's founder, at an induction ceremony at the Landmark Hotel in Marylebone, London, in October.