Pierre Koffmann was named the Chefs’ Chef of the Year at the AA Hospitality Awards 2012 held this evening at the London Hilton Park Lane.
The iconic chef, who runs his eponymous restaurant at the Berkeley Hotel, beat shortlisted industry heavyweights including Michel Roux Jnr, Sat Bains and Claude Bosi to win the award, which is voted for by all UK establishments holding AA Rosettes.
Koffmann said he was delighted with the award. “I am thrilled to have won this,” he said. “It means so much to me as it was voted for by fellow chefs.”
After working with the Roux brothers both at Le Gavroche and the Waterside Inn, Koffmann ran his famous La Tante Claire in London for 25 years, where he not only gained three Michelin stars but also mentored countless other chefs – among them Marco Pierre White, Gordon Ramsay, Tom Aikens, Bruno Loubet and Eric Chavot.
Following a hiatus of more than seven years after the closure of La Tante Claire in December 2002, Koffmann returned to stove with the opening of Koffmann’s in 2010, where he serves a relaxed, provincial French menu.
Meanwhile fellow chef, Antonio Carluccio OBE, celebrity chef-restaurateur, mushroom enthusiast and co-founder of Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s, won the AA’s Lifetime Achievement award.
The AA Restaurant Guide this year celebrates its 20th anniversary, which was marked this evening with a tribute by Heston Blumenthal and Raymond Blanc. Jason Atherton, chef proprietor of the Michelin-starred Pollen Street Social in London, consulted on the menu.
Among new AA rosette winners was Claude and Claire Bosi’s two-Michelin-starred Hibiscus restaurant in London, which was the only establishment to gain the AA’s top accolade of five rosettes.
Other winners included the Michelin-starred Pass at South Lodge hotel in Sussex, Casamia in Bristol, Pollen Street Social and Seven Park Place by William Drabble in London, which all won four AA rosettes.
For the full llist of AA Hospitality Award Winners, including all hotels, see catererandhotelkeeper.com:
Chefs’ Chef of the Year: Pierre Koffmann
Lifetime Achievement Award: Antonio Carluccio OBE
Restaurant of the Year (England): The Church Green British Grill, Lymm, Cheshire
Restaurant of the Year (Scotland): Rogano, Glasgow
Restaurant of the Year (Wales): Sosban, Llanelli
Restaurant of the Year (London): Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Knightsbridge
Wine Award (England and overall): L’Etranger, London
Wine Award (Scotland): Castle Terrace, Edinburgh.
Wine Award (Wales): The Felin Fach Griffin, Brecon
New AA Rosette Restaurants in full:
Five AA Rosettes:
Hibiscus, London
Four AA Rosettes:
The Pass Restaurant @ South Lodge Hotel, Lower Beeding
Casamia, Bristol
Pollen Street Social, London
Seven Park Place by William Drabble, London
Three AA Rosettes:
Orwells, Henley on Thames
Roger Hickman’s Restaurant, Norwich
Stoke Place, Stoke Poges
Rib Room @ Jumeirah Carlton Towers, London
Wolfgang Puck@ 45 Park Lane, London
Ellenborough Park, Cheltenham
Cringletie House, Peebles
Alyn Williams @ The Westbury, London
The Dining Room @ Hilbark, Frankby
Thirty Six by Nigel Mendham @ Dukes Hotel, London
One Devonshire Gardens, Glasgow
Gordon’s, Inverkelor
The Old Inn, Drewsteignton
The James Miller Room @ Turnberry
Hipping Hall, Kirby Lonsdale
Rocca Bar & Grill @ Macdonald Rusacks Hotel, St Andrews
Mount Juliet, ROI
The Longridge Restaurant, Longridge
Airds, Port Apin
Isle of Eriska, Eriska
Plas Ynyshir Hall Hotel
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