Asian & Oriental Chef Awards opportunity for innovative chefs
Restaurateurs and professional chefs have wasted opportunities presented to them during the long period of restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the chairman of the Asian Catering Federation (ACF) said this week.
Despite the difficulties brought on by covid-19, Yawar Khan says that restaurant owners have had the opportunity to develop adaptive business plans and chefs the time to innovate.
“Every cloud has a silver lining and government support in the form of VAT cuts, furlough payments, rate relief and, bounce back loads, has been a welcome lifeline,” said Khan.
While “some restaurateurs have done absolutely nothing – not even printed new menus”, Khan added: “Fortunately many ACF members have been able to rely on a growth in takeaway orders during lockdown.”
He pointed to initiatives adopted by struggling restaurants like takeaways offered by Michelin-starred eateries for the first time, home delivery meal-kits, extensive refurbishments, online ordering platforms, unique menu development and more.
Asian & Oriental Chef Awards opportunity for innovative chefs
Khan also said that chefs who have spent their free time experimenting and crafting new menus will have the opportunity of showcasing their efforts at this year’s Asian & Oriental Chef Awards in June.
The Asian Catering Federation (ACF), which represents 30,000 Asian and Oriental restaurants, is behind the awards which will be open to professional Asian chefs across the country.
Chefs working in Bangladeshi, Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Middle Eastern, Pakistani, Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese restaurants and takeaways, can participate by submiting recipe details and photos of an original two course meal by 7 June to [email protected].
Twelve finalists will then be invited to a cook-off competition taking place in The Pillars Restaurant at the University of West London in Ealing on Monday 21 June 2021.
The winners will be revealed at a special presentation dinner at the House of Lords on Monday 5 July 2021, hosted by Lord Sheikh.
ACF’s other annual awards include the 5th Asian Restaurant Awards in Manchester this July and Edinburgh at the Sheraton Grand in September, as well as the 11th Asian Curry Awards at the Grosvenor House in November.
