Andy Voice crowned Sodexo Chef of the Year 2019

Sodexo senior sous chef Andy Voice has been named Sodexo Chef of the Year in a live cook off at the Foodservice Show.

On 22 January, senior sous chef Voice was awarded gold at the NEC Birmingham for his ‘best in class’ menu. Sodexo said Voice impressed the select panel of judges with his menu of savoury carrot cake to start, loin and neck of lamb with celeriac and crosnes as the main course followed by a blood orange soufflé for dessert.

The competition judges included current National Chef of the Year Kuba Winkowski, Michelin-starred Adam Smith, Leathams executive development chef Perry Huntley, TV star Brian Turner, and the Craft Guild of Chefs chairman Andrew Bennett.

Voice has previously won gold, for ‘best in class’ and ‘best in show’ at competitions including La Parade des Chefs at last year’s Hotelympia and Sodexo’s own salon culinaire competition. David Humphreys, development technologist for Tillery Valley Foods, was awarded runner up by the judges with an additional gold award.

The two gold award winners were among eight chefs from across Sodexo UK & Ireland taking part in the contest. In the lead up to the final, the finalists competed in individual heats as well as participating in workshops and a mentor day hosted by Sodexo client and event sponsor Unilever.

Voice was presented with a winner’s plate from sponsors Churchill China and will participate in a gastronomic UK study trip including farm visits and a culinary experience featuring the best of British fine dining experiences courtesy of long-term sponsor of the competition, Leathams.

Voice said: “Sodexo and the guys I work with have put a lot of effort into supporting and mentoring me. They have been there from the beginning when the ideas were on paper, the first dishes, adding things, changing how things look on the plate – their feedback is what’s most important to me because I know they will be honest.”

David Mulcahy, food development and innovation director at Sodexo UK & Ireland, added: “A massive congratulations to Andy on winning and of course well done to all the finalists who competed. Andy is a dedicated chef and has worked extremely hard to triumph this year. They all presented excellent menus to the judges and the outcome is a testament to their determination, training and the supportive Sodexo teams around them.”