Compass Group UK & Ireland chefs to showcase the UK's talent at World Culinary Olympics

Fourteen of the best chefs from Compass Group UK & Ireland, the UK’s largest food and support services firm, are heading to Erfurt, Germany, to showcase their expertise and skills as they prepare to compete in the World Culinary Olympics.

The Compass chefs make up 50% of the ten strong England National Culinary team, hosted by the British Culinary Federation, as well as nine chefs competing as individuals.

Between October 22 and 25 the World Culinary Olympics will see the Compass chefs joining the cream of the crop to showcase their talents during the four-day cook off. Altogether, 40 nations and over 2,000 professional chefs will compete in the global contest.

Having such a high proportion of foodservice chefs represent the English National Culinary Team is a first for the foodservices industry, reflecting how the culinary talent and skills of chefs are being developed in the sector. The coach of the England team, Culinary Director at Compass Group UK & Ireland, Nick Vadis, has been taking part in the competition for 20 years and will be competing as well as managing the team in the Hot Kitchen and Cold Display. Nick has already won numerous awards throughout his career including Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at previous Culinary Olympics as an individual and as part of the England team.

The individual chefs from Compass will be headed by Richard Bowden, executive chef for Chartwells LA, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland. Richard has also won an impressive array of culinary awards including Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at previous Culinary Olympics. He has also shown commitment in developing the skills of other up-and-coming young chefs.

During the competition, national teams will be taking part in two disciplines. The first is a 110-cover hot kitchen event with food served in the Restaurant of Nations where each team will prepare a three-course meal focusing on their national specialist food. The second is a cold presentation buffet where both national teams and individual chefs will compete over a series of days, creating a range of dishes across a variety of categories.

Nick Vadis, culinary director at Compass Group UK & Ireland, said: “This is one of the most prominent events in the global culinary calendar and I am thrilled that half of England team is made up Compass chefs from the foodservice sector. This is a great opportunity for our chefs to showcase their talents at a world class level for their countries. Developing the culinary careers of our chefs is something that we always strive towards and this competition allows us to demonstrate the passion and expertise we have at Compass.”

Richard Bowden, executive chef for Chartwells LA, added: “I am delighted to be heading the individual Compass team at the Culinary Olympics. It’s an amazing opportunity and honour for our chefs to be able to demonstrate their skills on a global platform and show the rest of the world the British-based talent that exists in the foodservice sector.”

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