WestKing student wins London Chef of the Year
Compass chef Ben Ford has been named the London Chef of the Year 2009, after an intense final held at Westminster Kingsway College.
Studying for a Foundation Degree in Culinary Arts at WestKing himself, Ford impressed judges with the ‘ease of his culinary skills in the kitchen,’ just weeks after helping fellow student Andrew Wong to win his title as Chinese Masterchef 2009.
Tasked with cooking a four-course meal featuring an underutilized seafood starter, a main course of lamb and a chocolate dessert, Ford’s menu included an amuse bouche of Sweetbread and Smoked Pancetta Tortellini, with watercress Puree and Bacon and Thyme Foam; a starter of Seared Pave~ of Stone Bass with Beluga Lentils, Pickled and Pureed Cauliflower Chorizo Vinaigrette; a main dish of Herb and Garlic Roasted Cannon of Lamb, Slow Braised Rump with Parma Ham, Rosemary Creamed Potato and Buttered Vegetables; and a dessert of Chocolate Orange Torte with Marmalade Ice Cream, Macerated Raisins and Spice Oranges.
Ford was presented with a trip to New York to work a stage at a Michelin-starred restaurant by the competition organizers, the Craft Guild of Chefs, WestKing and Russums catering equipment, and said he was ‘over the moon’ about the win. “The level of this year’s competition was so high and it’s an honour that the judges picked my dishes over such fantastic chefs,” he said.
Last October, Ford joined Sophie Wright, Andy Twells and Dennis Mwakula in the Craft Guild of Chefs team to win fourteen medals at the Culinary Olympics in Erfurt in Germany.
