2009 Restaurant Chef Award: Sponsored by Essential cuisine

Winner: Izu Ani, Vanilla

As head chef at Vanilla, Nigerian born Izu Ani has been described by his peers as an inspirational, passionate and underrated chef who evokes the diner’s senses with the theatre he creates with his food.

Ani is responsible for inspiring and creating the restaurant’s menu and began his career working at The Square as a chef de partie more than 10 years ago.
In order to learn traditional and new cooking techniques, he moved to France where he spent the next five years at numerous Michelin starred restaurants. He then returned to The Square in 2003 as senior sous chef.

He has also travelled to Spain to train at some of the most world renowned establishments. He brought the various skills he accumulated over the years to his role at Vanilla creating his own interpretation of inventive cuisine.

Nominees:
Izu Ani
Vanilla
Herbert Berger
1 Lombard Street
Kieran Steinborn
Swan at the Globe

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