Michael Coaker Honoured with France’s Prestigious Order of Agricultural Merit
The Chefs’ Forum is delighted to celebrate Michael Coaker, Culinary Ambassador at the London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism, University of West London, who has been honoured with France’s prestigious Order of Agricultural Merit (Ordre du Mérite Agricole).
The award recognises Michael’s outstanding contribution to culinary education, the preservation and teaching of classical culinary arts and, importantly, his work over the past two decades strengthening the gastronomic and cultural relationship between Britain and France.
For more than 20 years, Michael has supported the Entente Cordiale Culinaire, bringing together young English and French hospitality students and forging friendship, understanding and professional development through shared culinary and cultural experiences.
The programme gives aspiring hospitality professionals the opportunity to learn from one another, experience different culinary traditions and develop an appreciation of the heritage and techniques that have shaped British and French gastronomy.
For Michael, this exchange has always been about opening young hospitality students’ eyes to new cultures and building professional relationships that will, no doubt, continue throughout their careers.
Throughout his distinguished teaching career at the University of West London, Michael has been a passionate advocate for the classical foundations of the culinary arts.
He has worked tirelessly to ensure that traditional cooking methods, skills and techniques continue to be taught to new generations of chefs, giving students the foundations they need to develop their own creativity and succeed at the highest levels of the profession.
His commitment to developing young people has also extended to his work with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Young Talent Escoffier, where the values of discipline, education and culinary excellence are all central to nurturing the chefs and hospitality leaders of tomorrow.
Michael also works closely with the esteemed Chef Gilles at the French Residence in London, helping to promote French gastronomy, culinary culture and the enduring importance of Franco-British culinary relations in the UK.
Receiving the Order of Agricultural Merit places Michael among a distinguished group of hospitality professionals recognised for their contribution to food, gastronomy and the promotion of French culinary culture.
He joins respected industry figures including Lionel Rigolet, Mark Flanagan, Duncan Palmer and Christian, making the recognition an especially proud moment for Michael, his colleagues and the generations of students he has supported throughout his career.
Michael said:
“For the past 20 years, I have been incredibly proud to support the Entente Cordiale Culinaire and to see young English and French hospitality students learn from each other. Food and hospitality provide a wonderful way of bringing people together, sharing traditions and creating friendships that can last throughout a career.
“It is also hugely important that we continue to teach and celebrate the classical foundations of our profession. These skills and traditions give young chefs the knowledge and confidence upon which they can build their own careers and creativity.
“To receive the Order of Agricultural Merit and to join such respected names from our industry is a tremendous honour.”
Michael’s award is wholly well-deserved recognition of a career dedicated to teaching culinary students, and safeguarding culinary knowledge being passed from one generation to the next.
It also celebrates something particularly important to The Chefs’ Forum: the ability of food and hospitality to bring people together across borders, cultures and generations and supporting young chefs and hospitality professionals, the very foundation on which we are built.
Everyone at The Chefs’ Forum warmly congratulates Michael Coaker on this richly deserved honour and thanks him for his extraordinary commitment to culinary education and the next generation of hospitality professionals.
