CHEFS CHASING AWARDS

A busy time ahead for the Milton kitchen - as well as their usual daily routines, which mercifully haven't seemed to have slowed down yet as a result of any "Credit Crunch", all the chefs bar one, are lining themselves up for upcoming competitions! All are busy preparing and reviewing menus and recipes, with each having one of the others helping. It's a fantastic display of passion for their chosen profession given they work hard just keeping on top of the restaurant demands. I cannot be naiive and think I can keep this team together forever but given such diverse ages, backgrounds and aims I am very proud to have such a team of harworking and dedicated people to rely for the mainstay of the Milton. Long may it continue.

David Littlewood is our Executive Chef and his passion for all things culinary is unwavering. A chance meeting introduced us and hopefully he is as grateful for that day as I. His skills, commitment and much burning of midnight oil after restaurant service in trial runs have been recognised in the past when he won the coveted local title of Grampian Chef of the Year 2007 and his passion is clearly infectious, encouraging one of our Commis Chefs at the time to win the Young Chef of the Year 2007 (who has since moved on to the dizzy heights of Inverlochy Castle) and assisting Head Chef, John Chomba, to claim the Grampian Chef of the Years title in 2008. For his continuing efforts David has reached the finals of the Scottish Chef of the Year 2009 which is to be held in Glasgow later this week.

Maybe I shouldn't tempt fate by hoping that I will have some exciting news to report later this week but we do wish him all the best and will be in Glasgow to cheer him on.....