Annual Awards of Excellence

The Annual Awards of Excellence (AAE), established in 1983, are the most prestigious awards available to young people in the hospitality industry today.

By recognising the most talented up and coming chefs, pastry chefs and waiters, these remain the only awards to cover all three categories of kitchen, pastry and service. The AAE is not just a competition but an examination, which means that every candidate has the chance to take home an award. It all comes down to their ability to meet the level of skill and excellence demanded by the judges. The top-scoring recipients of the AAE in each category will also be presented with the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Young Chef, Young Pastry Chef and Young Waiter of the Year awards.

Who can enter?

Young people (aged 20-26) and working full-time in the UK as chefs, pastry chefs or waiters. Each entrant must submit an essay and (for chefs) a recipe ahead of a skills test within each discipline.

Chefs can be tested on a variety of food preparation and cookery tasks, from making a salad to butchery skills. They must demonstrate that they can prepare a number of dishes including soups and dessert and a piece of their own free interpretation.

Pastry Chefs will be expected to demonstrate the ability to work with many different kinds of materials including detailed chocolate and sugar awork, and a creative presentation piece, as well as an excellent grounding in baking and plated desserts.

Waiters are tested on their knowledge and skills in a wide range of food and beverage service aspects. These include product knowledge, technical service skills, interpersonal skills and teamwork.

Past Winners

A full list of past Annual Awards of Excellence winners can be downloaded here.

What is the AAE format?

Launch AAE 2018

Monday 8th January

Application closing date

Monday 5th February

Quarter-Finals

Service Quarter-Final London – Saturday 17th February, The Langham
Service Quarter-Final Scotland – Monday 19th February, Gleneagles

Semi-Finals

Service Semi-Final London – Saturday 17th March, The Ritz
Service Semi-Final Scotland – Monday 19th March, Trump Turnberry
Kitchen Semi-Final Regional – Wednesday 11th April, University of West London, Westminster Kingsway College, University College Birmingham
Pastry Semi-Final Birmingham – Wednesday 11th April, University College Birmingham

Finals

Service Final London – Monday 14th May, Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester
Service Final Scotland – Saturday 19st May, Gleneagles
Kitchen Final London – Wednesday 6th June, University of West London or Westminster Kingsway College
Pastry Final Birmingham – Tuesday: 19th June, University College Birmingham