Cateys 2015
The Cateys has always been the hot ticket when it comes to the hospitality world. So as the leading foodservice agency we were there in force to find out first-hand who would be walking away with one of the iconic and highly coveted Cateys ‘lady & shell’ statues. Now in its 32nd year, the Cateys celebrate the cream of the crop when it comes to the hospitality industry. With twenty one categories covering all facets of the industry the awards night itself is the culmination of months of judging and preparation.
This year was a corker with an amazing menu devised by Mark Sargeant and prepared by Nigel Boschetti and his team at the Grosvenor House Hotel. Following our appetiser and starter Jason Attherton took to the stage to make an announcement on behalf of industry charity Hospitality Action, stunning diners with their new hard hitting #ItCouldHappenToYou campaign featuring the likes of Heston Blumenthal, Tom Kerridge, Angela Hartnett, Jason Atherton and Ashley Palmer-Watts. The campaign drives home the message that when the worst happens (and it could happen to you!) Hospitality Action is there to pick-up the pieces, helping to support those in need in the hospitality industry. The call to action is a simple one, individuals can donate by texting Chef15 and either £5 or £10 to 70070*. As supporters of Hospitality Action we love this new campaign which builds on the previous one.
Following the HA announcement guests no doubt counted their blessings whilst enjoying the rest of their delicious meal, which was accompanied by wines sponsored by Matthew Clarke (although the delicious but rather substantial Crab Roll starter did make the rest of the meal a challenge for those in more snugly fitting evening wear – naming no names).
Then it was on to the business of the evening – the awards. Actor John Hannah of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Sliding Doors fame led the proceedings with his signature Scottish lilt. As ever, each category was hotly contested and the winners emotional. The awards culminated in the Special Award which went to Springboard’s Stephen Moss, the International Outstanding Achievement Award which went to Daniel Boulud, and finally the Lifetime Achievement Awards which went to the legend that is Nico Ladenis.
Then it was off to enjoy catching up with friends and contacts old and new at the bar and even to capture the evening for posterity in the mini photo-booth sponsored by our client Hotelympia (the evidence of which is to be found on our Jellybean twitter feed @JellybeanAgency). As ever, congratulations must go to the events team at The Caterer, the judges, the venue, and of course all the nominees and winners. It was truly a night to remember and we were honoured to be there. If you weren’t as lucky you can catch-up and see the full list of winners here, along with coverage on Twitter by searching #Cateys.
*(We often incorporate charity activity into client campaigns as well as carrying out fundraising ourselves for HA and Springboard, as well as a number of other charities we support. Funnily enough at the moment our client Wrapmaster is donating £5 to Hospitality Action on behalf of chef and caterers when they enter the #WrapChallenge, so if you’re working in a kitchen we would urge you to not only donate via the It Could Happen To You campaign text above, but also enter the Wrap Challenge – that way you can easily double your donation at a stroke – curtesy of Wrapmaster).