Hotel Cateys 2024: Extra Mile Award – Nigel Boschetti

The winner of this year’s Extra Mile Award has been described as a “true master of his craft”.

Nigel Boschetti, executive chef of London’s Grosvenor House hotel, oversees one of the capital’s most complex dining operations. His remit spans everything from in-room dining to banquets for up to 2,000 people in the hotel’s famous Great Room, which hosts prestigious events including the BAFTA Film Awards and the Cateys.

Boschetti, who is responsible for a brigade of 70 chefs, also oversees afternoon tea in the Park Room and the JW Steakhouse – a concept of his own design.

Stuart Bowery, general manager of the 494-bedroom Grosvenor House London, which is part of the luxury JW Marriott brand, described Boschetti as a “go to chef” within the wider Marriott business.

Boschetti, who trained at Ealing College, joined Grosvenor House from the Lancaster London hotel in 2010. He later said it had been the best move of his career and added: “There has been a lot of repeat events, but no two days have ever been the same. I am particularly proud of opening the JW Steakhouse, which has been a great success, as well as reopening the Park Room and Executive Lounge.”

The chef has remained at the Park Lane hotel since 2010, aside from a brief hiatus between 2018 and 2021, which was spent at the 1,996-bedroom Marriott Marquis hotel in New York.

During his time at Grosvenor House he has been named the 2012 Hotel Cateys Chef of the Year (250 covers or more) as well as winning the Craft Guild of Chef’s Banqueting Chef Award in 2019.

One chef who has worked with Boschetti is Paul Ainsworth, who devised the menu for the 2021 Catey Awards. He said: “I have worked alongside Nigel on two recent occasions, and each time he has been incredibly welcoming to me and my team, inspiring as a chef, and an absolute pleasure to work with and learn from. 

“On the most recent occasion he was on hand to help deliver my menu to almost 1,000 guests for the AA Awards. These are huge, high-profile events, where every little detail has to be immaculate. Nigel is a true master of his craft, delivering outstanding dishes, at volume, at some of the most prestigious events. 

“He’s a chef I really admire in this industry, and I’m delighted that he has been awarded the Extra Mile Award – richly deserved in my humble opinion.”

Luke Selby, executive head chef at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, who prepared the feast served at this year’s Cateys, said: “Nigel is a fantastic executive chef and has built a great team around him that are incredibly organised, professional and deliver in volume a smooth operation with an unwavering commitment to excellence. 

“I’m thrilled to see Nigel’s positive attitude, hard work and dedication has been recognised with this award, it is truly well deserved.”

What’s abundantly clear is that Boschetti will leave huge shoes to fill when he moves into a culinary director role from January 2025, ahead of his retirement in December 2025.