Lights, Camera, Action! North West Design Centre hosts Hi-Life Best Chef Cook-Off!

A Best Chef Hi-Life Award is an accolade that is respected UK-wide and attracts entries from the crème de la crème of the industry. This time for the first year the event took place in the recently launched specialist theatre kitchen at Dawnvale’s North West Design Centre located in Hollinwood, Greater Manchester.

Four of the five finalists were filmed so that those attending the prestigious Hi-Life Awards Dinner taking place at The Midland Hotel on Friday 3rd February can see the chefs and judges in action as well as the outstanding food they prepared on the day. Unfortunately, Nigel Smith from The Villa in Lancashire was unable to attend the event due to a prior engagement.

Judges for the Cook-Off included: Matthew Norman, The Daily Telegraph’s Food Critic, Elizabeth Carter, Editor of the Good Food Guide and Denise Jones, a Hi-Life member and Manager of the North West Design Centre. Chefs prepared one dish in a timed environment and presented them individually to the three judges in the Boardroom.

The North West Design Centre was chosen not just for its superlative facilities and equipment but also its close proximity to the motorway network – less than five minutes from the M60.

Lisa Lund, Commercial Director of Hi-Life said,
‘The Cook-Off could not have gone more smoothly and the atmosphere was absolutely electric. The Chefs all executed their dishes with aplomb and with great competitive spirit and mutual respect. It has been great to work with the team at Dawnvale and the North West Design Centre as they pulled out all the stops to ensure the event was our very best to date. The facilities are first-class and the team so friendly and a pleasure to deal with. The place is magnificent – a real hidden gem which chefs and hotel owners should definitely try and visit whenever they are in the area.’

Lisa’s sentiments were echoed by Tom van Zeller, head chef and owner of van Zeller Restaurant. Said Tom
‘Competing in the competition was great fun and the facilities were superb. The whole set up was really impressive and afterwards I was keen to look round and see the bar, restaurant and kitchen designs and equipment. I will certainly be making North West Design Centre my first port of call when I start my next restaurant project.”

The five shortlisted chefs were;

Christopher Cleghorn, ABode Chester.

Phil Fanning, Paris House.

Tom van Zeller, van Zeller Restaurant.

Enzo Mauro, Stock Restaurant.

Nigel Smith, The Villa (not present)

The winner will not be announced until the awards night which will be held at the Midland Hotel in Manchester.

Hi-Life currently has over 3,500 restaurant partners throughout the UK and over 200,000 members of their Club including Platinum Members all of whom enjoy 2 for 1 dining on an annual basis.

This year the event will be raising funds for the Five Stars Appeal.