The Gold Service Scholarship – Finalists announced!

PRESS RELEASE – The Gold Service Scholarship

 

Six National Finalists Announced

After two Regional finals, The Gold Service Scholarship judges led by chairman, Edward Griffiths are delighted to announce the six finalists for the first Gold Service Scholarship 2013.

The National Finalists are:

 

Daniel Crump, 23  – Restaurant Gordon Ramsay – Chef de Rang

Ivo De Beus, 29  – Claridge’s Hotel – Bartender

Rebecca Dibben, 22 – Deseo Mediterranean Restaurant, Gleneagles Hotel, Restaurant Supervisor

Steven Driscoll, 23 – The Berkeley – Graduate Trainee Food and Beverage

Devid Isabella, 29 – The Ritz – Assistant Restaurant Manager

Ben Robinson, 22 – Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons – Sommelier de Rang

 

The National Final – Monday 11th February 2013

The final will take place at Westminster Kingsway College, London, where contestants will show off their service skills to judges and invited guests at a special lunch.

 

The finalists will each take control of and serve a table of four guests.  The judges will be looking at mise en place, decanting, reception service, meal service, wine and beverage service and will take account of general demeanor, engagement with the customers and level of professionalism.

 

The Award Ceremony – Claridge’s, Mayfair

The first Gold Service Scholar will be announced the same evening at an awards ceremony at Claridge’s. Champagne by Laurent-Perrier, wines by Fortnum & Mason.

 

Final preparation – Westminster Kingsway, 31 January 2013

Each of the finalists come from different spheres of the restaurant industry. Some are from management, some from the wine/bar side and some from the restaurant floor. In order to create an atmosphere of equality on the day the judges have arranged a special day where the whole process of the final and what is expected will be explained and different points of the service discussed.

 

The main points will be:

 

Quotes from the judges:

 

Silvano Giraldin:  “We set a high bar, this was a difficult competition but everyone rose to the challenge and displayed amazing passion for hospitality.  It’s going to be a very interesting final.”

 

Edward Griffiths, chairman of the judges: “I was very impressed with the overall standard of the competitors, and am delighted to see that they came from a diverse spectrum of the industry and a good range of ages.  As this Scholarship grows over the coming years, I hope that we will see an even greater mix of backgrounds.  Every candidate, without exception, demonstrated great passion for hospitality and their energy and commitment to the tasks was inspiring.  It left us with the difficult task to decide who to take through. Congratulations to our deserving finalists.”

 

Sergio Rebecchi: “What a positive couple of days! In recognition of the excellent efforts of the competitors we have decided to invite them all to join us for the awards ceremony which we hope inspires those that didn’t get through to keep learning, working hard and come back again next year”.

 

Michael J Newton-Young: “It really has been an uplifting experience to see that there is a new generation, a large number of them British, from a wide range of FOH backgrounds coming through with great personality’s, passion and a clear commitment to this noblest of Arts, great service.”

 

John Croft: “It is the aim of the Scholarship to ensure that the competition remains fully inclusive for all sectors and should become renown as a leading exponent for the pursuit of service excellence within the hospitality industry.”

 

Thomas Kochs, GM Claridge’s: “Becoming a sponsor of The Gold Service Scholarship was one of our greatest pleasures. We are proud to host the finals in our Ballroom and look forward to a wonderful evening celebrating the talent in our industry.”