Twenty-four-year old Kamil Gwizdala, Chef de Partie at The Bristol, was among three contenders for the Young Chef of the Year award at the inaugural “Night of the Stars” but narrowly missed out on a win. The awards were staged last night (25 January) by the recently re-launched Bristol Hoteliers Association (www.bristol-hoteliers.co.uk) to celebrate and recognise the efforts of the chefs, front-of-house staff and unsung heroes who work so hard to make Bristol’s hotels a success.

Kamil has been working in the kitchens of The Bristol since September 2016, when he moved to Britain from his native Poland where he worked in a very busy Italian restaurant. Hearing that The Bristol had achieved impressive “Great Places to Work” statistics and was committed to training its staff in order to develop their skills and further their careers, he applied for and secured a job in the kitchen. The Bristol Head Chef and fellow Pole Pawel Mikolajczewski took Kamil under his wing and has given Kamil a great deal of encouragement, guidance and instruction.

In his attempt to win the Young Chef of the Year title, which was sponsored by Ruby & White (www.rubyandwhite.com), Kamil took part in a cook off against two others, preparing a two-course meal comprising a starter of Chicken Livers with pancetta, wild mushrooms and port jus, followed by a Beetroot Gnocchi main with ricotta, parmesan, shallots and a white wine sauce. He chose to use chicken livers to promote an ingredient that is not often used, but which is delicious when cooked well and nutritious. The main course showcased the Italian cooking skills he had learned in his previous job, while also being very similar to a Polish dish.

The Young Chef of the Year was named, alongside winners of the Heart of House, Front of House, Mentor, Bright Idea, Rising Star, Unsung Hero and Green Team awards, at a glittering ceremony attended by hundreds of hospitality industry professionals at the Harbour Hotel.

Bristol Hoteliers Association Chairman, Mark Payne, who is also General Manager of The Bristol, said,

“I am thrilled for all the nominees and winners of tonight’s awards, as they all play an important role in the success of the hotels, which in turn generate a great deal of prosperity for the city and surrounding area.

“The hotels employ thousands of people, use many local suppliers and act as a shop window when people and businesses are looking for somewhere to stay or host an event. They also act as the first point of contact for many people when they visit Bristol. The staff at all Bristol’s hotels put in a lot of effort, much of which goes unnoticed. These awards recognise that hard work and honour those who help to make our city such a great place to visit.”