Cumbria pub chef scoops CGOC award

Nina Matsunaga of The Black Bull, Sedbergh, has won the Pub Restaurant Chef title at this year's Craft Guild of Chefs Awards.

Matsunaga, who co-owns the Cumbria pub with her partner James Ratcliffe, received the accolade at an awards ceremony on Thursday 9 June at Magazine London. 

It's a second chance to celebrate for the duo in recent months, as The Black Bull was also named the Cumbria Pub & Bar of the Year as part of the 2022 National Pub & Bar Awards.

Chefs and caterers working in healthcare, education and hospitality were among those to have been recognised at the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards 2022.

Leading hospitality names such as Gary Jones and Alistair Birt were honoured at the ceremony. Jones, executive head chef at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Oxfordshire, was selected for the night’s Special Award in recognition of going above and beyond in a career which has a major influence on the British chef scene.

The Culinary Hero Award (formerly the People’s Choice Award) went to NHS Chefs Academy. Luke Selby was awarded New Restaurant of the Year Award for Evelyn’s Table, the intimate Michelin-starred counter dining experience in London’s Rupert Street.

“This has been a year of exceptional challenges and I am so proud to see that we have so many worthy winners," says Craft Guild of Chefs vice president Steve Munkley. "This year we made a special award to recognise someone who went above and beyond during the pandemic. I believe that we have identified such a worthy winner in Gary Jones, he is a real role model in the industry, he looks to encourage and develop young talent, while still being mindful of their own wellbeing.”

The full list of winners

Apprentice Chef Award
Grace Hawksley – Gravetye Manor

Armed Forces Chef Award
WO Jonathan Smith – Royal Air Force

Banqueting and Event Chef Award
Mark Fletcher – Churche's Mansion

Chef Lecturer Award
Jose Souto – Westminster Kingsway College

Chef’s Favourite Branded Restaurant Group
Miller & Carter

Competition Chef Award
Graham Singer – Compass Group UK & Ireland

Contract Catering Chef Award
Karl Griffiths – Sodexo

Culinary Hero Award
NHS Chefs Academy

Development Chef Award
Vicky Endersen – MSK Ingredients

Innovation in Sustainability Award
Hana Group

New Restaurant of the Year Award
Luke Selby – Evelyn’s Table

Pastry Chef Award
Alistair Birt – Harrods

Pub Restaurant Chef Award
Nina Matsunaga – The Black Bull, Sedbergh

Public Sector Catering Chef
Jake Barwood – Totteridge Academy

Restaurant Chef Award
Dan McGeorge – Rothay Manor

Young Chef Award
AS Shaun Downs – Navy

Special Award
Gary Jones – Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons

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