Restaurant Manager of the Year 2012: finalists revealed
Tobias Barfoot of The Ambrette in Margate, Clement Joseph of RAC in London, Peter McAlister of Culloden Estate and Spa in Belfast and Paul Taylor, general manager of TGI's in Luton will all go through to the final at The Westbury in London on 22 October.
The four will also compete with Paul Shanahan, food & beverage director at London’s Syon Park, Waldorf Astoria and runner up in 2011, whose position last year secures him a place in this year's final.
Tough tasks
To win a place in the final, semi-finalists had to carry out a range of tasks which tested their skills, from writing a response to a complaint letter from a customer, to demonstrating how they would deal with a stressful situation. Judges - AFWS directors Paul Breach and Sophie Roberts-Brown and Stephen Motion of Livebookings - then decided who should go through to the final.
“The semi-finalists had a tough, but enjoyable day and we are delighted that this year’s entries came from a broad spectrum of establishments, from contract caterers to high street chains,” said Roberts-Brown.
The winning restaurant manager will receive a stage in a restaurant or hotel in New York, where they will gain a unique insight into the running of various departments.
Previous winners of the title include Peter Avis, restaurant manager at Babylon Roof Gardens and Michele Caggianese, restaurant and bar manager of the Rib Room at London's Jumeirah Carlton Tower, who spent a week with Danny Meyer's Union Square company in New York last year.
