Essential Cuisine kick off search for UK's star cookery duo

The search is on to find the UK's perfect cooking partners as the Essential Cuisine Chefs Team award 2011 goes up for grabs.

Pairs of cooks are invited to compete for a 'ultimate teamwork trophy' at next year's Hospitality event, which takes place at the Birmingham NEC from 24-26th January 2011.

Contestants will be battling to reach the standard achieved by this year's winners: head chef James Hart and chef Leszek Karpinski from Goodenough College, who beat nine teams at Hotelympia after adapting recipes they had created together for the Live Theatre Stage at London's Excel.

This year, shortlisted teams that make the Hospitality live final will be given one hour to prepare, cook and present an Amuse Bouche, their own choice of fish dish using Essential Cuisine Lobster Glace or Fish Stock, and a main course using Essential Cuisine Premier jus (Lamb, veal or chicken) or Game Glace, both for two covers. The company will supply all additional ingredients, which must be used on the day.

Nigel Crane, managing director of the producer of stocks, gravies and demi-glaces has praised the competition for emphasising the importance of teamwork in UK hospitality stating: "We're not saying individuals are not important, it's just that effective and efficient teamwork goes beyond individual accomplishments.

"The best teamwork happens when everyone harmonises their contributions and works towards a common goal.

"What we are looking for is productive duos who share such vision, and when challenges arise, as they always do, they have the resources and commitment to deal with them in a constructive and positive manner. This is easier said than done in such a high pressure industry, but those who master it will reap success in competitions and catering as a whole."

Words: Georgiana Ndlovu

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