Vacherin wins ‘ACE Ready Steady Cook’

Sous Chef Josh Bathurst and Executive Development Chef Ludvina Hatert successfully defended Vacherin’s 2023 title at the Association of Catering Excellence (ACE) Ready Steady Cook competition 2024. Now in its 26th year, the competition took place on Thursday 19th September, at 93 Feet East in Brick Lane, London.
Hatert and Bathurst’s winning menu included:

•    BBQ Gressingham Duck, Ginger Spiced Sausage, Textures of Plum, and Duck Jus
•    BBQ Beetroot, Raspberry, Caramel, Vegan Ricotta with Pumpkin Seed, and Braised Grains

In an incredibly tight competition, they triumphed by showcasing their extensive knowledge of game cookery, emphasising the importance of using the whole bird and creating an inventive vegan dish that wowed guest judges Ben Tish and Sabrina Gidda.

Francois Gautreaux, Chair of ACE, said: “Well done to Vacherin for securing its second consecutive win. If they keep this up, we’ll have to introduce a Hall of Fame! It was our second year with this new outdoor, charcoal-based cooking format, and all the chefs really stepped up their game.”

This victory marks Vacherin’s third win in four years at the ACE Ready Steady Cook competition, further showcasing the company’s commitment to nurturing exceptional culinary talent.