Will Torrent Scoops the 2010 Acorn Scholarship
The 2010 Acorn Scholarship has been awarded to Will Torrent, a pastry chef at Bachmann’s Patisserie & Chocolate Creations, Thames Ditton. Will was awarded the Scholarship on 30th November 2009 at Michael Caines aBode Hotel, Manchester.
Will and 11 other finalists were chosen to present to a panel of prestigious judges where each candidate was carefully deliberated. Will was awarded the Scholarship for his passion and ambition to open his own patisserie, teaching business and champagne and dessert bar. The Acorn Scholarship will give Will the opportunity to work alongside greats such as Michael Caines and use the business prowess of James Horler to develop his skills over the next 12 months.
Presenting Will with his award, Michael Caines, MBE, commented: “Will’s ambition and passion really stood out. He gave an excellent presentation and was able to identify exactly where he wants to be in five years time and how the Scholarship can help. At just 23, Will has already had a huge amount of success thanks to his determination and go-get attitude. We have no doubt that he is a worthy winner of the Acorn Scholarship and look forward to helping him achieve great things.”
Having a grandfather who trained and worked as a chef and a great-uncle who owned a patisserie in Paris, it came as no surprise that Will wanted to pursue a successful career in hospitality. He has won several awards, including the Craft Guild of Chefs Young Chef of the Year Award 2009 and competed in the International WorldSkills Competition in Japan, mentored by Yolande Stanley MCA, where he was awarded a conveted medallion of excellence – the first for any British pastry chef.
Will comments: “Winning the Acorn Scholarship is such an honour. I have seen what last year’s winner, Simone Sylvestre, has achieved since winning and it’s incredible to think that I will have the same opportunity. I can’t wait to meet with my mentors and plan the year ahead, it’s like a dream come true.”
The standard of entry was so high this year that Joel Fagg, food and beverage manager, Barcelo Hotels and Resorts, was also highly commended for his enthusiasm and well thought-out presentation. Acorn Scholarship judge, Christian Armstrong, head of human resources, Thistle Hotel Group, will be mentoring Joel in the coming months.
Claire Sullivan, marketing director, Unilever Foodsolutions, concludes: This was the first year that I have judged the Acorn Scholarship and I was amazed at the high standard of entries and the passion of these youngsters. Many are in their early 20’s and it filled me with pride and confidence to know that these young professionals are aspiring for such great things in the hospitality industry. I’m sure we’ll be seeing a few of them in the near future.”
Will wins Young Chef of the Year at the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards 2009!
An exceptional young chef from Bachmanns in Thames Ditton has won a coveted industry 'Oscar' from the most respected association dedicated to culinary excellence in the UK.
Will Torrent, 23, from Iver in Buckinghamshire is a pastry chef at Bachmanns Patisserie walked away with The Young Chef of the Year Award at the glittering Craft Guild of Chefs Awards at London Hilton, Park Lane on Monday 1st June which saw more than 600 people from across the industry and beyond, including the Craft Guild of Chefs' royal patron, HRH The Countess of Wessex, flocked to see 13 finalists pick up a 'Chef's Oscar', as they are known in the industry, plus a special award for Heston Blumenthal.
Bachmanns Head Pastry Chef, Gregory Crouch Cadoni said "I am delighted for Will- this is a real accolade for a Pastry Chef, and I view this as a compliment to the entire brigade here."
MD, Chris Bachmann added: "Will has really settled in well here and has continued to improve since he arrived. He has become another valued member of my Staff, and if his progress continues he has the potential to become an inspiration for the next generation of young pastry chefs."
Nick Vadis, chairman of the Craft Guild of Chefs - the most respected association dedicated to culinary excellence in the UK - said: The awards go from strength to strength. "We had a phenomenal number of entries this year, which really goes to highlight the passion and skills in all sectors of our industry.
"Judging this year was particularly hard and the decisions were well debated by our stellar judging panels. I would like to thank all our nominees and winners for their significant contribution to the industry and a big well done to all our 2009 champions."
Speaking at the event Will Torrent commented: "It's fantastic to be recognised by chefs and for a pastry chef to win young chef of the year makes it even more sweet and I still can't believe it. The evening was made even more special with Heston winning the special achievement award, as my first week in a kitchen was with him at The Fat Duck when I was 15!".
Will Torrent is no stranger to success, in 2007 he competed in the International WorldSkills Competition in Shizuoka, Japan where he was awarded a medallion of excellence beating off the likes of France, Germany and Switzerland. The WorldSkills Competition is the biggest skills competition in the world and is held every two years in one of its member countries. Its sets world class standards in over 40 skill categories ranging from cabinet making to web design. Over four days of tough competition, young people drawn now from 51 member nations test themselves against tough international standards. The ultimate prizes are gold, silver and bronze medals.
Simon Bartley, CEO of UK Skills commented; "Following his participation in WorldSkills it has been a great pleasure to track Will's career, which is going from strength to strength. Will's story is proof not only of the fantastic opportunities that exist for those wishing to purse a vocational career, but also of the benefits of taking part in skills competitions which allow those who take part to develop and benchmark their skills. I hope others will read his story and be inspired".
Now in their 16th year, the Awards cover all aspects of the chef profession, from education to pubs and cost sector to banqueting, and nominees do not have to be a member of the Guild.
Will wins Silver at Salon Culinaire 2009! Following his success at the same competition two years ago and now working at Bachmann's full-time, and WorldSkills under his belt, Will was delighted to win a silver medal for his chocolate petit fours at the competition held at Birmingham's NEC arena. Will's fine selection consisted on six chocolates created by him at Bachmann's. Including Cassis, Earl Grey and Orange, Apricot Crumble bar, Cardamom and pistachio, Mango and Passionfruit and Champagne, the judges including Keith Hurdman of Thorntons, were impressed and awarded a silver medal in a class where no golds were awarded. Keith Hurdman commented; "a well thought out range of chocolates and colourful, as well as showing lots of skills and well presented".
