Is The Kitchen Porter Of The Year Working In Your kitchen?

Warewashing specialist Winterhalter has launched a competition to find the Kitchen Porter of the Year.

"Kitchen Porters are the Cinderellas of the catering kitchen, doing the work no-one else wants to do," says Stephen Kinkead, managing director of Winterhalter UK . "Without them, who would clean, carry, scrub, scrape, operate warewashers, stack dishes...? They are the backbone of the foodservice industry. What's more, many of them go on to great things, as chefs, managers, proprietors and so on.

"It's time to celebrate the work they do and the contribution they make."

Winterhalter isn't the only one to think a KP of the Year competition is a great idea. Several Michelin star chefs have voiced their support, including Dominic Chapman and James Sommerin. "A good kitchen porter is as important as a good head chef," says Dominic. "Celebrating the amazing work kitchen porters do is a brilliant idea." James adds: "What a fantastic idea."

Nathan Outlaw says: "KPs are the forgotten heroes of the kitchen. Without them, the place would grind to a halt; the KP is the most important person in there!"

Francis Atkins adds: "A good KP is pure gold in the operation of an efficient and productive kitchen as far as we are concerned at the Yorke Arms they are responsible for the day on day cleanliness of the kitchen they command total respect from all members of staff, for the necessary work they do. Two of our chefs started off as kitchen porters so they had a complete understanding of the way we run our Kitchen. One is now a chef de partie and the other a commis chef and they are highly valued. Our ethos is very team oriented bringing individual strengths to the forefront so that there is a sense of achievement at the end of every service for all.

"I see this award as being instrumental in encouraging young people to enter kitchens to learn and progress, with a proper curriculum and structure put in place so they have targets and enjoyment through out their work and receive respect from their peers."

It's not only about the honour of winning: Winterhalter has put together a package of prizes including 500 cash and a meal for the winner and up to five colleagues at a chef's table at a Michelin starred restaurant. The KP of the Year's establishment will win, too, with some top Winterhalter products.

To help promote the event, Stephen Kinkead worked a shift as a KP in Sat Bains' restaurant.

Entry is simple and the deadline is 20th May 2013. The competition is supported by Caterer & Hotelkeeper.

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