Ealing Pub Chef Praised in Parliament
The Plough's Ben Morgan reaches final of 2018 competition
An Ealing chef has been praised after reaching the final of the Parliamentary Pub Chef and Young Pub Chef of the Year award.
Ben Morgan from The Plough in Northfields was named as one of four finalists by a panel of expert judges after having been nominated by Virendra Sharmal MP as 'a superb chef offering great food in the local area.'
Ben was runner-up after preparing a dish of roasted brill, lemon pureé, razor clams with a bouillabaisse foam at the cook final, held on Wednesday the 24th of January at Hospitality House, a bespoke training venue in London.
With a national shortage of pub chefs, the Pub Chef Passion initiative was launched aimed at promoting the pub chef as a career option, the competition seeks to highlight that.
Virendra Sharma MP said, "Ben's commitment to locally sourced ingredients and working with whats in season means that he is at the forefront of what the pub sector can bring to London and the UK. The whole team at the Plough make it one of the best in London, and I am delighted that they are in my local area. Ben should be proud of what he has achieved and I am sure we will all hear a lot more about him in coming years."
Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said, “I am delighted that Virendra Sharma MP nominated a local pub for this award. We received so many brilliant entries and while not everyone could be a winner, we were extremely impressed by the quality of food on offer. To reach the final four among a field of over 130 entrants is an achievement in itself.
“A career as a pub chef is exciting and demanding, and it offers young people development, rewards and a great working environment. Pubs are increasingly serving very high quality food, and for ambitious chefs, it’s a great chance to quickly take control of your own kitchen. I think it is time that we recognise the efforts of superb chefs up and down the country.”
The award, sponsored by Nestlé Professional, is run by the British Beer & Pub Association and the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group
21 March 2018