Editor’s View

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ISSN: 0332-4400

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At this year’s Gold Medal Awards, Cork's Imperial Hotel won the much-coveted overall award. For this issue, we caught up with Imperial GM Bastien Peyraud and Executive Head Chef Ali Honour to talk about some of the changes that have taken place at Cork’s ‘Grande Dame’ over the past couple of years. On page 25, Ali chats about her career, her new role at the Imperial and how support from Bastien and the owners of the hotel has made it easier to implement transformational change across the hotel’s food service offering. Change isn’t easy and it’s taken a while for some of her ideas around food waste and sustainability to take root. But take root they have and almost a year since she took on the role, an ethos of sustainability has taken hold. For Bastien, the Imperial's success at the Awards is down to its staff. As GM, Bastien says his role is to protect the soul of the hotel, with the hope that “the next generation of staff will ensure The Imperial is still the Grande Dame of Cork, famous and award-winning for its hospitality.”

Elsewhere in this issue Chris Fullam, Head Chef at The Sea Rooms in Kelly’s Resort, talks about seeking inspiration for his new menus overseas. A stage at Ekstedt at the Yard in London gave Chris an opportunity to brush up on his cooking with fire skills so he could make the most of the barbeque kitchen at The Sea Rooms. Most vegetables and some fish dishes are cooked over the coals across both the lunch and 7-course tasting dinner menus. The goal, says Chris, is to have a busy restaurant filled with happy customers. “A dish might be considered perfect, but I'll always aim to elevate it further. I’ve inherited an outstanding space; it’s up to me to produce food that’s on the same level.” For more on Chris’ plans at The Sea Rooms, turn to page 16.

As always, there’s plenty to enjoy in this issue. If you have any thoughts or opinions on this month’s content, please do drop us a line.

Editor: Denise Maguire

Email: denise.maguire@ ashvillemediagroup.com www.hotelandcateringreview.ie

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