A CHEF from Cornwall has been named the AA Chefs' Chef of the year at the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards 2023.
Each year, the AA recognises the best hotels and restaurants in the UK across 26 categories. Hosted by TV presenter Claudia Winkleman, the 2023 event was held at Grosvenor House in London on 25 September 25 2023.
Chef Patron, Paul Ainsworth at No. 6, Padstow, Cornwall won the top award of the Chefs’ Chef.
Hailing from Southampton, Paul studied catering and hospitality at his local college and was soon working in some of London's best kitchens, starting in 1998 with Gary Rhodes, later working with Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing After eight years in London, Paul moved to Padstow to work at No 6, and fell in love with Cornwall.
Together with his wife Emma, they took over the business relaunching it as Paul Ainsworth at No 6.
The AA says: "Popular among his peers, he's modest, humble and passionate about hospitality, so it's no surprise he's been voted as this year's Chefs' Chef."
Also celebrating was The Idle Rocks, the luxury boutique hotel located in St Mawes, Cornwall.
The hotel was awarded with the prestigious Three AA Rosette award as well as the AA Breakfast Award for 2023.
The long-established AA Rosettes scheme celebrates successful cooking at different levels across the UK.
Awarded by the AA's team of inspectors with their wealth of experience in assessing quality, receiving this award is a significant achievement in this industry and beyond.
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Graduating from its Two AA Rosette Award, Three AA Rosettes are given to restaurants that inspectors deem to have 'achieved culinary standards that demand national recognition well beyond their local area', highlighting the hard work and talent of the culinary team at The Idle Rocks led by Head Chef Matt Haggath.
The chic and contemporary coastal retreat boasts a stylish and relaxed restaurant that showcases a delectable array of dishes, thoughtfully crafted with the finest Cornish ingredients. The seasonal menus are a culinary journey through a symphony of flavours and textures, all while offering breath-taking views of the stunning St Mawes Harbour.
Another good showing was Senara Restaurant, Truro & Penwith College, Cornwall which was runner up in the AA College Restaurant of the Year.
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