Young waiter of the year award for Lewis
Gleneagles celebrates
A waiter at Gleneagles Hotel has taken a major title in industry awards held in London.
Lewis Hunter, who works in the hotel’s Strathearn Restaurant, has won the Young Waiter of the Year Award at the prestigious Royal Academy of Culinary Arts (RACA) Annual Awards of Excellence (AAE).
Lewis, originally from Kinross, joined Gleneagles in 2013 and is currently completing an apprenticeship.
He took the overall title after scoring the highest mark in the service competition, which involved decanting and describing wine to a judging panel, as well as setting up and serving a threecourse meal with wines and liqueurs to a table of guest judges.
The young waiter accepted his award at a celebratory dinner at the Rosewood Hotel in London.
Lewis Hunter said: “When I heard I had won the award I was shocked, then elated.
“It was nerve-wracking, serving a panel of experts under pressure, but I love my job and simply drew on all the skills I use every day for hotel guests.”
“Accepting the award was a really proud moment. I am delighted to bring this award back to Scotland and to Gleneagles.”
Conor O’Leary, Gleneagles’ hotel manager, said: “As a property that prides itself on delivering world-class service, all our hotel teams demonstrate professional excellence every day, and we’re used to seeing staff receive recognition for their efforts, but Lewis’ achievement stands out.”
The awards ceremony also celebrated the talents of Gleneagles’ Ross Hunter and Stefanie Obermayer, who were two of just 20 young chefs, pastry chefs and waiters to have achieved the coveted AAE 2017 – a kite mark of excellence in service – earlier this year.
Mr O’Leary added: “All three of our achievers – Lewis, Ross and Stefanie – have promising careers ahead of them and we are very proud of their success.” Lewis Hunter scooped the title of Young Waiter of the Year
I love my job and simply drew on all the skills I use every day for hotel guests