4 minute read
Live Ribble Valley Issue 135 September 2022
HIGHEST HONOUR
Recently awarded the UK’s highest culinary accolade, Lisa Goodwin-Allen is spearheading Northcote’s ground-breaking apprenticeship programme giving young chefs a once-ina-lifetime opportunity
Ribble Valley chef Lisa Goodwin- Allen has been named as the 2022 winner of the Chef Award at the Catey’s.
The award, which is considered the highest honour of the evening and is seen as an indicator of the top chef in the country in any one year, is chosen by a panel of industry judges.
The prestigious awards, known as the ‘hospitality Oscars’, celebrate the best and strongest performing individuals within the industry.
Lisa, who is executive chef of Michelin-starred Northcote and director of The Game Bird and American Bar at The Stafford London, was praised for her work ethic and exquisite cooking, at the awards.
A delighted Lisa said: “Wow! It really is so amazing to be recognised by my peers and to be awarded the Chef Award. It’s such an honour and it brings a tear to my eye.
“A Catey is one of those awards that you strive to win in your lifetime. I feel like it’s a dream come true. I want to thank everyone who has supported me and believed in me.
“A huge shout-out and thank you to my incredible teams at Northcote and The Stafford London, without them, none of this would be possible.”
Last year Lisa took over the direction of The Stafford London’s renowned restaurant, The Game Bird, working collaboratively with executive chef Jozef Rogulski.
Her adventurous menus are bursting with flavour and tap into celebrated ingredients, delivering on taste and artistic flair.
Her win at the Catey’s coincided with the launch of Northcote’s summer gourmet menu, which embraces seasonal produce and incorporates dishes such as Orkney scallops with Isle of Wight tomatoes and basil, North Sea cod with steamed mussels, chervil and whey, roast guinea hen with fermented gooseberry, sweet turnip and elderflower and a dessert of English strawberries with yuzu yoghurt and sorrel.
At the Catey Awards, Lisa was described by the judges as having significantly impacted the hospitality industry over the past year, being an incredibly hard-working individual who embraces, showcases and develops young talent – a great, inspirational role model and shining light.
Lisa’s work with young aspiring chefs has resulted in her spearheading a Northcote apprenticeship programme that gives youngsters a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the Northcote team.
NORTHCOTE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME
As the 2022 Chef of the Year, Lisa is renowned for her fantastic training culture and is incredibly passionate about developing talent that will help create a path for successful careers.
Lisa works across the whole kitchen, managing the team, developing new dishes, handling the commercial side of the kitchen and creating a passionate and positive place in which the team can work.
As a Northcote kitchen apprentice, budding chefs will work closely with Lisa and will be enrolled with Northcote’s training provider, which works together with the kitchen management team to schedule and oversee education, progression and development from start to finish.
Over the two-year programme, apprentices will have the opportunity to gain paid work experience.
After successfully completing the apprenticeship, all students will be offered a permanent contract as a Northcote chef and the scheme will continue to invest in their development, offering future promotional opportunities. Successful apprentices will receive a Level 2 or 3 qualification in Professional Cookery.
With ambitious expansion plans and state-ofthe-art facilities, Northcote is looking to bring in fresh talent to its apprenticeship programme and is on the lookout for five individuals who are enthusiastic about hospitality and want to learn from the best.
Offering flexibility for its employees, Northcote’s apprentices work a 40-hour week at set times and also have a number of benefits including:
• Up to 50 per cent staff discount on food and beverages throughout the Stafford Collection
• Discounts with Pride of Britain hotels
• Staff accommodation if required
• Up to £3,000 bonus paid bi-monthly
• Reward Gateway membership
• Support in entering top industry competitions
If you are an aspiring young chef and would like to join Northcote’s apprenticeship programme contact: courtney.maksymow@northcote.com northcote.com
