Two Cumbrian chefs have landed top honours at a prestigious industry awards ceremony.
Dan McGeorge, head chef at Rothay Manor in Ambleside, won the Restaurant Chef award and Nina Matsunaga, chef patron of the Black Bull in Sedbergh came away with the Pub Restaurant Chef accolade.
Held in London last night, the awards celebrate the leading figures in the restaurant industry. The Craft Guild of Chefs Awards are seen as the chefs’ Oscars recognising the exceptional talent across the whole of the hospitality industry – from apprentice and young chefs just starting out to chefs who are established in their careers in hospitality, pubs and restaurants.
Dan was shortlisted alongside Paul Askew, of The Art School in Liverpool and Ruth Hansom of The Princess of Shoreditch in London.
Dan said: “I didn’t expect to win at all, especially being up against Paul and Ruth. To be recognised by your peers in this way is really special and is one of my career highlights so far. I might be pinching myself for a while to come but it’s fantastic, especially being able to bring another culinary accolade home to the Lakes.”
Nina was nominated alongside Simon Harris, of The Embankment in Bedford and Nick Hemming, of The Heron Inn, in Malpas.
Nina said: Winning was totally unexpected but I’m really over the moon. To be honest it hasn’t fully sunk in. James and I were on the train home very early on Friday morning, so we could get back in time for service.
“I guess once I’ve had a bit of time off the full enormity of what’s been achieved will hit me, but I couldn’t have done it without the full support of the entire team at the Bull, so I want to say a big thankyou to them for that.”
