Matt Goss, Chantal Brown, Robert Walton, Marrion Areola Valette, Sarah Fabergé and Rene Serres
The sixth annual UKH Restaurant Association Gala Dinner was held on Tuesday the 28th November 2023, organised by World Young Chef Young Waiter, in association with UKHospitality and in partnership with title sponsor NEFT Vodka. This prestigious event, in aid of World YCYW, brought together leading hospitality figures for a special celebration dinner at The Savoy Hotel, in London.
President of the Restaurant Association & Chairman of Young Chef Young Waiter Robert Walton MBE hosted the event alongside speakers, including Kate Nicholls CEO of UKHospitality. The 2023 Restaurant Association Award for Services to Hospitality, designed and sponsored by Fabergé, was presented by Sarah Fabergé to the esteemed Cyrus Todiwala. Todiwala received the honour alongside a pair of stunning Fabergé cufflinks. This year the RA Gala raised £30,000 for the World Young Chef Young Waiter and Young Mixologist.
Cyrus Todiwala and Sarah Fabergé Damien Flood
The evening started with welcome drinks followed by dinner and the event also featured entertainment and an Auction to raise funds for WYCYW. Guests indulged in a delicious 3-course meal accompanied by Terra Remota Wines, Champagne by Champagne PIAFF and Caviar by Kings London Caviar. Guests also enjoyed NEFT Vodka and Aphrodise at the reception. It was also an honour to have Damian Flood, an accomplished singer and pianist, delivering a mesmerizing performance. The celebrations continued at Adam Handling’s EVE Bar in London for an unforgettable after-party.
The RA Gala Dinner is a highlight of the UK hospitality calendar as it celebrates hospitality and is a platform for reflection. This year, over 250 esteemed guests gathered to celebrate the successes of World YCYW 2023 including Brian Turner CBE, Matt Goss, Adam Handling, Andy Downton, Simon King, Jack Croft, Sanjay Dwivedi, Jeff Galvin, Chris Galvin, Jack Croft, Galton Blackiston, Chris Tanner, James Tanner, Tom De Keyser, Adam Bateman, Adam Byatt, Roy Ner, Simon Attridge, John Williams MBE, Cyrus Todiwala OBE, Pervin Todiwala, Michael Kwan and Mario Perera.
Partners and Sponsors include: NEFT Vodka, Great Campaign UK & Northern Ireland, UKHospitality, American Express, Champagne PIAFF, Terra Remota, Fabergé, TheFork, Restaurant Associates, Wine&Earth.
Quotations:
Robert Walton MBE, Chairman of World Young Chef Young Waiter and President of the Restaurant Association said: “I am deeply grateful to have been able to host the 6th UKH Restaurant Association Gala Dinner in support of World Young Chef Young Waiter, alongside our esteemed friends and partners in the hospitality industry. As the longest standing president of The Restaurant Association, the RA Gala holds a special place in my heart as it is a celebration of the remarkable achievements and talents that grace the hospitality industry. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the success of this year’s event and the World Young Chef Young Waiter competition. It is an honour for us to provide extraordinary opportunities to individuals aged 28 and under and to elevate this unique competition to a global stage. Your support enables us to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young chefs, waiters, and mixologists worldwide
Sean Valentine FIH, Managing Director of World Young Chef Young Waiter said: “How wonderful to be back at the Savoy for the 6th Restaurant Association Gala dinner in support of the World Young Chef Young Waiter and Young Mixologist competition. The Evening was exciting and dynamic with 20 leading chefs in attendance, our Heads and Tails, auction and live music from pianist Damian Flood. It was great to see some familiar faces and making new friends at the most illustrious evening.”
Kate Nicholls UKHospitality Chief Executive said: “It was a pleasure to once again attend the Restaurant Association dinner, which is always one of the highlights of the hospitality calendar. The Young Chef Young Waiter competition is such a fantastic initiative to showcase the enormously talented people working within hospitality and I’m so pleased that the Restaurant Association continues to support it.”
Dale Agar, Co-founder & CEO, Wine&Earth said: ‘As sponsors for the past 5 years, Wine&Earth were delighted to partner the Restaurant Association Gala Dinner again in 2023. Arguably the best event yet, incredible to see our magnificent hospitality industry getting back to its vibrant best and overcoming the challenges from the past few years’.
Sarah Fabergé said: Once again it was a pleasure to attend the Restaurant Association’s Gala dinner where we all come together to celebrate excellence in hospitality and to raise funds for Young Chef Young Waiter. We all enjoyed the evening immensely, as did our guests. I was honoured to present our Fabergé Anatoly cufflinks to Cyrus Todiwala OBE,DL in recognition of his achievements and contribution to hospitality.
Kate Taylor Tett, Director, The GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland campaign said: ‘GREAT was honoured to be part of the RA Gala which brought together and recognised inspiring individuals from across the hospitality sector and the UK. GREAT promotes the best of the UK around the world and at every level UK hospitality certainly leads the world with its creativity, innovation and exceptional welcome.’
Ryon Head, Champagne PIAFF: “Champagne PIAFF were very proud to support the RA Gala Dinner 2023. Having worked closely with the RA charity partner YCYW, we felt it was a natural association, in support of the hospitality industry.”
About WYCYW
Since its establishment in 1979, the Young Chef Young Waiter competition has continued to promote hospitality as a career of choice, a profession, and a vocation. Today, with its new revitalised format Young Chef Young Waiter continues to honour the next culinary and service stars globally. Young Chef Young Waiter, in partnership with Great Campaign UK and Northern Ireland and Culinary Institute of America, mission is to discover the best young talents in the industry. The competition is open to Young Chefs and waiters under the age of 28 from diverse backgrounds and YCYW ensures these young talents are equipped with relevant skills, current knowledge, and a network to help them succeed in the world of hospitality.
In 2022, the competition marked a significant milestone by expanding its reach to a global audience, with participants from seven countries striving for the title of World Young Chef Young Waiter Champion. Building on this success, the competition is set to return in 2023, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the global hospitality industry and providing an expansive stage for the cultivation of creativity, education, and innovation that knows no geographical bounds. The event promises to surpass all previous iterations in size, quality, and sustainability.
Beyond celebrating the accomplishments and diversity of the hospitality industry, past winners of Young Chef Young Waiter have achieved remarkable success, with some becoming industry successes.
Notes to editors:
The World Young Chef Young Waiter competition, established in 1979 in partnership with UKHospitality and the Restaurant Association. The competition promotes hospitality as a career of choice, a profession, and an avocation. The competition is open to all young chefs and waiters from any background under the age of 28.
For enquiries, images, & interview requests please contact kareena@ycywawards.com
Follow Young Chef Young Waiter on social media:
Twitter @worldycyw |Instagram @worldycyw | Facebook youngchefyoungwaiter
LinkedIn YCYW |. YouTube YCYWWebsite-youngchefyoungwaiter.com
#RAGalaDinner
