Turnberry Hotel Trainee Beats Top Chefs To Win National Title

AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND, August 01, 2011 (Press-News.org) A young commis chef, trained and working in Scotland, has been chosen by a panel of judges led by Heston Blumenthal as the Young Chef of the Year at the Academy of Culinary Arts (ACA) Annual Awards of Excellence 2011 held in London.

Dimitar Angelkovski, a trainee chef at the world famous Turnberry Resort, fought off competition from some of the most admired chefs in the business from restaurants such as Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, The London Ritz and Claridges.

The ten kitchen finalists also included Turnberry Sous Chef Ryan Murphy, and a senior chef from the Royal Household of Buckingham Palace.

Justin Galea, Head Chef at Turnberry, commented: "We've always known that Dimitar and Ryan are incredibly talented guys and we're delighted for them both to get this far. For Dimitar, this is a spectacular win against the toughest competition he will ever have seen. Dimitar has great composure in his cooking, clear technical ability and a deep passion for what he does. We're very proud to have him part of our team at Turnberry."

The presentation made by Heston Blumenthal, Chairman of the ACA, followed an intense period of cooking held earlier in the year. Chefs had 4.5 hours to prepare a razor clam starter using mystery ingredients, followed by venison Wellington with fondant potatoes, glazed carrots, stuffed cabbage, celeriac puree and a red wine jus, concluding with a modern interpretation of a lemon meringue dessert.

Dimitar was honoured as Best Young Chef of the year at a gala presentation at London's Claridges, as the candidate achieving the highest marks of all the finalists who gathered from across the UK.

The news is a further boost in the growing recognition of the quality of food at the Turnberry restaurant 1906, particularly under the stewardship of Head Chef, Justin Galea. The kitchen has recently relaunched its chef's table, a private dining space overlooking the pass which is personally hosted by the Turnberry chefs for regular groups of diners.

The Annual Awards of Excellence 2011 are judged by a panel of industry experts including John Williams MBE, Executive chef of The Ritz and Martyn Nail, Executive Chef of Claridges. The event is sponsored by the National Skills Academy for Hospitality, City & Guilds, the Savoy Educational Trust, John Lewis, Maldon Salt, G.H.Mumm Champagne, Gressingham Foods, Allens of Mayfair and the Caterer & Hotelkeeper.

Turnberry, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scotland

Turnberry is located on the stunning Ayrshire coast, offering elevated views over the Irish Sea, Ailsa Craig and mountains of Arran and Kintyre. First opened in 1906 as the world's first golf resort, Turnberry quickly established itself as the premier destination for social and sporting events The five red star resort underwent a multi-million pound restoration programme prior to hosting the 2009 Open on its legendary Ailsa golf course and joining Starwood Hotels & Resorts much acclaimed Luxury Collection. The 150 luxuriously appointed guest rooms offer a perfect blend of Edwardian tradition and timeless design. For longer stays, The Lands of Turnberry boasts 8 luxurious holiday apartments. The iconic Ailsa Course is currently ranked as Britain's number one golf course by leading golf publications and consistently rated within the world's best. There is also the Championship Kintyre Course and the Arran Course, as well as The Colin Montgomerie Links Golf Academy and Scotland's first and only TaylorMade Perfomance Lab. Turnberry is the perfect setting for food lovers, with a choice of unique dining experiences, including the signature restaurant 1906, led by Head Chef Justin Galea, which offers classic dishes with a modern twist and a unique Chef's Table experience. In addition there is The Grand Tea Lounge, Ailsa Bar & Lounge, Duel in the Sun and Tappie Toorie restaurant overlooking the links golf courses and sea beyond. Turnberry has a well-established reputation for top class meeting and events facilities, specialising in bespoke boardroom experiences. There is also a luxurious spa offering a range of ESPA treatments. The onsite Outdoor Activity Centre offers guests a variety of distinguished outdoor activities including quad biking, archery, fishing and off-road driving.

The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts

The Luxury Collection is a selection of hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world's most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination's indigenous charms and treasures. Magnificent decor, spectacular settings, impeccable service and the latest modern conveniences combine to provide a uniquely enriching experience. Originated in 1906 as a collection of Europe's most celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury Collection brand is a glittering ensemble of more than 75 of the world's finest hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries in bustling cities and spectacular destinations around the world. The Luxury Collection includes award-winning properties that continuously exceed guest expectations by offering unparalleled service, style and class while celebrating each hotel's distinctive heritage and unique character. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognised as being among the world's finest. For more information, please visit http://www.luxurycollection.com

Turnberry, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scotland, is a founder member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

THE ELITE AYRSHIRE BUSINESS CIRCLE

The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle is an association founded in 2007 by some of the top companies in Ayrshire.

Its purpose is to publicise its members, and to celebrate and promote the wealth and rich diversity of entrepreneurial talent and business excellence that abounds here within the county boundaries of Ayrshire.

Members include the Clydesdale Bank, Ayr Racecourse, Western House Hotel, Turnberry Golf Resort and South Ayrshire Council. Member company activities include broadcasting, building and construction, architectural practice, estate agency and land management, chartered accountancy, insurance broking, legal services, golf club management, marketing services and brand creation, web design and public relations consultancy.

Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors senior partner Norman Geddes is executive chairman of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle, and managing director is public relations consultancy Fame Publicity Services proprietor Murdoch MacDonald.

For further information about The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle and to apply for membership, e-mail eliteayrshire@gmail.com

Website: http://www.eliteayrshire.com

Issued by:

Murdoch MacDonald
Fame Publicity Services
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