Balmoral Chef receives top honour at the Scottish Restaurant Awards

February 29, 2012 – The Balmoral’s Executive Chef, Jeff Bland, has been crowned ‘Chef of the Year’ at the Scottish Restaurant Awards 2012.

The announcement comes as the iconic Edinburgh hotel’s fine-dining restaurant – number one – celebrates its 10th year of Michelin star status with Jeff Bland at the helm.

The Chef of the Year winner was decided by a hand-picked panel of judges who were looking for a chef with style and innovation; a leader who promotes Scottish produce and who helps set trends in the restaurant world as well as developing new talent. Jeff was presented with his title at the glittering award ceremony in Glasgow.

Commenting on his achievement, Jeff said:
“It’s a great honour to be named Chef of the Year by a panel of judges who are experts on the food industry in Scotland. I take great pride in my role as Executive Chef at The Balmoral – from developing menus and innovative dishes to training new chefs and championing seasonal Scottish produce - it means a great deal to be recognised by my peers for this.”

Jeff joined Rocco Forte’s The Balmoral in June 1997 as Executive Chef and is currently responsible for a team of 36 chefs, spread over four restaurants and bars outlets including Hadrian’s Brasserie, The Bollinger Bar at Palm Court, The Balmoral Bar and fine-dining restaurant number one - now firmly established as one of Edinburgh's top Michelin star restaurants.

The Balmoral’s General Manager, Franck Arnold, commented on the award:
“We are extremely proud of Chef Jeff Bland being named Scotland’s Chef of the Year for 2012. This well-deserved title is recognition for his passion and enthusiasm to provide our guests and visitors with a memorable five-star dining experience.

“Since joining The Balmoral 15 years ago, Jeff has been instrumental in the success of our food and banqueting operations – most notably, in taking our fine-dining restaurant, number one, from strength to strength. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his dedication and hard work over the past 15 years.”

The Chef of the Year title is the most recent in a string of Awards for The Balmoral this year. Brian Grigor, Sous Chef at The Balmoral, was this month named as the first UK Game Chef of the Year and The Balmoral was named as one of the Top 10 Luxury Hotels in the UK in Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards for 2012.

ENDS

Notes to Editors
The Balmoral
Part of Rocco Forte Hotels since 1997, The Balmoral is a luxury hotel in the true sense of the word. The 188-bedroom hotel with its majestic clock tower is located at 1 Princes Street in the centre of Edinburgh. The Balmoral boasts Scotland’s only Bollinger Bar; Michelin-starred “number one” restaurant, presided over by Executive Chef, Jeff Bland; a luxurious spa and ten function rooms accommodating up to 450 people, nearly all of which enjoy fantastic views of Edinburgh Castle.
Media Enquiries:
Lauren Meldrum
PR & Marketing Manager
The Balmoral Hotel
T: + 44 (0) 131 622 8826
Email: lmeldrum@roccofortehotels.com

Rocco Forte Hotels

Rocco Forte Hotels is a family of 13 individual hotels and resorts. Each property has a unique style, reflecting its nationality and location, but all share Rocco Forte Hotels’ trademark attention to detail, high quality and immaculate service.
 
Established by Sir Rocco Forte in 1996, Rocco Forte Hotels comprises: Hotel de Russie, Rome; Hotel Savoy, Florence; The Balmoral, Edinburgh; The Lowry Hotel, Manchester; Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg; Hotel Amigo, Brussels; Brown’s Hotel, London; Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt; Hotel de Rome, Berlin; The Charles Hotel, Munich; Augustine Hotel, Prague; Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Sicily; Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi. Future openings: Jeddah 2013; Marrakech 2014; Cairo 2014; Luxor 2014.

www.roccofortehotels.com
Media Enquiries:

Anna Martin/Ilse van Steen/Natasha Berg
Rocco Forte Hotels
Tel:  +44 (0)20 766 3107/3137/3113
Email:  pressinformation@roccofortehotels.com