Cranleigh pub wins inaugural Peach competition
The cook-off was run by Peach Pubs to recognise future talent.
A duo from The Richard Onslow in Cranleigh, Surrey, have won the inaugural Master Peach & Chef competition.
The cook-off was run by Peach Pubs to recognise future talent and highlight the role of its front- and back-of-house teams play in delivering an exceptional guest experience.
Chef Samarth Ghodke and junior manager Eleni Lebesis (pictured) worked together to create and present a three-course seasonal menu using free-range, high welfare produce and match each dish with wine pairings from the wine list. They competed against teams from eight other pubs across the group in the first internal competition of its kind that Peach has run.
Over two rounds, the chefs were challenged to use seasonality, flavour profile and cooking skill to devise a menu that would be presented by junior managers with perfectly matched wines and faultless service.
A menu for management
The teams were judged and scored by Peach brand operations director Chris Stagg and food operations manager Trevor Blake, with three teams making it through to a final round taking place at Peach pub The Boathouse at Boulters Lock in Maidenhead, Berkshire.
"We know we have some fantastic young chefs and managers-to-be in our business and wanted to do something that would encourage them to use their flair and knowledge of their pub and then shine a light on their talents," says Blake. "So we devised a competition to put that to the test and push our young teams to excel.
"Throughout the competition, all the teams excelled and the standards were very high. We were hugely impressed with the level of skill and the attention to detail, and of course it was sensational to be wined and dined by some of the awesome young talent we have at Peach. In the end, The Richard Onslow pipped the others to the post because of chef’s incredible flavour combinations, perfect execution and the expertly chosen wines and well-judged service."
As well as winning the Peach Master & Chef title, the duo's prize is a Michelin Star meal and the opportunity to see their dishes run as a special across all 22 Peach pubs.
You may also be interested in…
