AFW searches for Gastronomy Team of the Year 2010

The Academy of Food & Wine (AFW) has highlighted the importance of good communication between front and back-of-house restaurant teams as it starts the search for the Gastronomy Team of the Year 2010.​

The competition, now in its second year, is designed to reward restaurants of any style or size who can demonstrate a good working relationship between chefs and waiting staff.

AFW chairman Nick Scade said effective communication between front-of-house and the kitchen is 'vital' to ensure customers receive 'truly impressive service' and benefit from top food and wine matches and urged employers and managers to enter their staff in a bid to encourage team work.

"The service in many restaurants often suffers through lack of simple communication - it's vital that at all times one team knows what the other is doing. "(The competition) is a good training exercise as well as the chance to show-off their skills and raise the profile of their restaurant."

The competition​

Restaurants will initially be judged on answers to a questionnaire. Successful teams will then be asked to send in written menus with a list of accompanying wines and a detailed explanation on their choices and how they would serve them.

Winners from each of five regions - the South, London, Wales, the Midlands, the North and Scotland - will then be invited to a final on 19 July at Westminster Kingsway College in London where they will have to prepare and serve a two course meal with wine for a panel of judges.

The winning team will get the chance to take a 10-day trip courtesy of Discover the Origin to Burgundy, Parma and the Douro Valley.

Entry forms can be dowloaded from www.afws.co.uk​ or by calling the Academy of Food & Wine on 020 8661 4646.