Two Yorkshire-based chefs have won awards in olive magazine’s inaugural Chef Awards, in association with Dark Horse Wine.
Sarah Lemanski of Noisette Bakery in Leeds won the Best Baker award, while Luke French of Jöro in Sheffield, won the Dark Horse Wine award which recognises a chef who’s seriously innovating and doing something truly different to everyone else.
The winners of the 2018 Chef Awards are revealed in the latest edition of olive, which praises Luke for the “quality and inventiveness” of his food which combines local produce with Scandi/Japanese techniques, extracting “as much flavour as possible out of humble raw materials.” Sarah was commended for her “passionate and knowledgeable approach to baking” which uses unusual ingredients from across the globe.
olive magazine’s Chef Awards recognise the unheralded chefs, across seven categories, who have been quietly excelling in the background. Nominees for the awards were voted for by the public, with the winners being chosen by a panel of experts, including: olive magazine editor Laura Rowe; Bristol-based journalist and restaurant inspector Mark Taylor; award-winning food author and Guardian food columnist Felicity Cloake; and social media foodie influencer Clerkenwell Boy.
Head judge Laura Rowe said of Luke’s award: “This was a no-brainer for our judges – Luke’s food is special and hard to define. There’s no one else producing food quite like this in the country, and we’re sure it won’t be long before Michelin comes knocking.”
Commenting on the win for Sarah, Laura said: “Sarah has determinedly innovated in the world of pastries, and punches way above her weight as an independent baker.”
olive magazine Chef Awards winners 2018
SUSTAINABLE STAR
Brad Carter of Carters of Moseley, Birmingham
Douglas McMaster of Silo, Brighton
BEST STREET FOOD CHEF
Terri Mercieca of Happy Endings, London
VEGGIE PIONEER
Richard Buckley of Acorn, Bath
BEST PASTRY CHEF OR BAKER
Calum Franklin of Holborn Dining Room, London
Sarah Lemanaski of Noisette Bakery, Yorkshire
SMALL BUT MIGHTY
James Cross of Lake Road Kitchen, Ambleside
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Tony Evans of Can Cook, Liverpool
DARK HORSE WINE AWARD
Luke French of Joro, Sheffield
The winning chefs are now featured in October 2018 issue of olive magazine and online at olivemagazine.com/chef-awards/.
