Observer Food Awards name Heston Blumenthal as the Chef of the Decade
Last night in London the Observer Food Monthly Awards winners were announced and true to form, at the 10th annual event even the trophies could be eaten. The night was hosted by Sue Perkins, The Great British Bake Off presenter and Jay Rayner.
Heston Blumenthal received the Chief of the Decade award for making such a huge contribution to the food industry of Britain over the past decade. Heston was chosen by a panel of food experts in Britain and is known for his goal of showing that British food can stand up to the best cuisines across the globe.
Marking a first in the history of the awards, edible trophies created by Heston and the team at the Fat Duck, were given to all 16 winners on the night.
To honour each of the 10 nominees for the Chef of the Decade award, chef Angela Hartnett also produced a striking bespoke menu for the evening, creating 10 canapés to represent each chef’s signature dish including Heston’s world-famous snail porridge and Jamie Oliver’s fish pie.
Since their creation in 2003, the Observer Food Monthly Awards have championed the best in British food and drink, from independent local producers to the UK’s most admired chefs. Two new categories were introduced this year to reward the best amateur food photographer and best local farmer.
Commenting on winning Chef of the Decade, Heston Blumenthal said: “I remember the day I got the OFM restaurant of the year. It was 2003 and I was on my way to Madrid to do a demo introducing the world to the concept of multi-sensory cooking for the first time: the use of liquid nitrogen as a cooking tool, dry ice to release smells, the process of taste and flavour perception, the wonderful world of aromas and flavour pairings, among other things. It was also the week I came so close to going bankrupt – and the week that I got the third Michelin star. It really was the week that changed my life!
It marked the beginning of an incredible 10 years. Now I guess many of those brand new ideas are part of everyday cooking; they are now accepted and familiar to many of us. I would never have thought at that time I would still be in business, let alone receiving this award. I am extremely proud to be awarded Chef of the Decade,
I am extremely proud of my team and the continuous development and energy they bring to our industry, and I am extremely proud to still be here! It’s been quite an incredible decade and I can’t wait for the next 10 years.”
Allan Jenkins, editor of Observer Food Monthly magazine and chair of the judging panel, said: “The amazing transformation in British food in this first decade of the awards shines through in this year’s winners. Whether it’s the small but brilliant L’Enclume in the Lake District winning best restaurant, or a supremely talented female teenage cook in Cornwall beating the big-city, big-money, big-boy chefs, the days of the local food hero are definitely and defiantly here.
Observer Food Monthly readers voted in their tens of thousands (the numbers have more than doubled in the past three years) to put their favourite people and places on the map.
“We are proud this passion, commitment and knowledge is reflected in this year’s line-up of outstanding winners. My favourites this year come from opposite ends of the country and food spectrum: L’Enclume, where Simon Rogan’s connection with his Cumbrian surroundings and its people are reflected on every amazing plate and The Skint Foodie blog which proves that illness and living on benefits in London doesn’t mean you can’t also produce glorious food.”
The winners for 2013 are:
As voted for by Guardian and Observer readers:
Best restaurant (over £20 per head)
L’Enclume, Cumbria
Best cheap eats (under £15 per head)
Tonkotsu, London
Best Sunday lunch
Eagle & Child, Ramsbottom, Lancashire
Best new cookbook, supported by Harvey Jones Kitchens
Jerusalem – Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi
Best ethical restaurant
Poco, Bristol
Best independent retailer
Keelham Farm Shop, Yorkshire
Best place to drink
Hawksmoor, London
Best food blog
As selected by the judging panel:
Chef of the Decade
Heston Blumenthal
Best producer, supported by Jarlsberg
Burt’s Blue Cheese
Best newcomer in food and drink, supported by Selfridges
Honey & Co
Outstanding contribution
Le Champignon Sauvage
Young Chef of the Year (under 30), supported by Cuisinart
Georgie Dent
Best local farmer, supported by Waitrose
Bucksum Salad
Best readers’ recipe
Crab, Chorizo and Coriander Tart by Caroline Hart
Best food photography
Grandma’s Birthday by Colleen Branch
For more information on the awards visit observer.co.uk/food-awards or pick up a copy of OFM on Sunday 20 October 2013, free with The Observer.
