Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Annual Awards of Excellence 2015 winners announced

The awards, which recognise young chefs, pastry chefs and waiters, are decided following an exam rather than a competition.

Dorian Janmaat of Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons was named Young Chef of the Year. Gabriella Cugno of William Curley was crowned Pastry Chef of the Year, while Thomas Borghi from The Ritz London received the Young Waiter of the Year award.

The winning candidates had to attain a score of over 70 per cent in the tasks set and judged by industry figures including John Williams MBE, executive chef at The Ritz London.

“I hope that through the Annual Awards of Excellence we can motivate and inspire the industry’s young chefs, pastry chefs and waiters to undertake a career of training first themselves, and then others; and to look outside the workplace to wider industry and opportunities,” said Williams.

As part of their prize winners received a bursary worth £2000 and a days’ work experience at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal.

The Gala Dinner also celebrated a further 33 talented young chefs, pastry chefs and waiters, who successfully achieved the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts’ Annual Award of Excellence 2015 in finals held in May and June.

The full list is as follows: