'Et voila, after exactly one year of intense organisation, meetings, endless phone calls and many many e-mails The Galvin Cup 2009 has been awarded once more to two talented and creative bartenders: Riccardo Semeria-The Connaught andJeoffrey Anthony Warmerdam- student at NHTV. There is no doubt in my mind that this year's Cup was the best so far and will be a tough act to follow for next year. Indeed the competition saw "la creme de la creme" of the bar world mixing and shaking for the 1st prize. Tension and the desire to win was evident on all the bartenders faces especially as they were being watched and judged by such household names as Robbie Bargh, Peter Dorelli, Salvatore Calabrese, Silvano Giraldin, Remy Lyseor Lino Marchese to name but a few. The search has already started for next year's venue to host The Galvin Cup 2010, one thing is for sure the Cup has now taken a life of its own because of your support and for that we are immensely grateful. Thank you and see you next year.'

Fred

Riccardo Semeria of The Connaught wins the 2009 Galvin Cup!

Congratulations to all participants, winners and sponsors on a very successful Galvin Cup! 

Official Results Bartenders:

1st place:  Riccardo Semeria-The Connaught

2nd place:  Carolin Weise-One Aldwych

3rd place:  Gavin McGowan Madoo-St. Albans

4th place:  Mirko Falconi-The Lanesborough

5th place:  Mickael Perron-Sanderson

6th place:  Stefano Cossio-The Dorchester

Official Results Students:

1st place: Jeoffrey Anthony Warmerdam-NHTV

2nd place: James Coston-Leeds Metropolitan University

3rd place: Xiang Xiang Lu-Croydon College

4th place: Victor Ortells-Hospitality Agency

5th place: James O'Keeffe-Westminster College

6th place: Wesley Yeung-Brookes

'The Galvin Cup is just around the corner and I feel extremely honoured to have been asked to help judge it this year. It looks set to be a fun and spectacular event and I’m delighted to be a part of it. 

I’m in complete awe of the art of mixology. As a food writer and recipe creator I know how important it is to find the right balance of flavours and how difficult it can to be to come up with something new and exciting. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the crème de la crème of London’s bartending scene in action and sampling their creations.

 I’ll be using technology to the full at the event to share it with the world, using my BlackBerry to Twitter <http://twitter.com/JuliaCherryPie> the event and blogging <http://asliceofcherrypie.blogspot.com/> about it when I get back home (if I’m sober enough to do so, that is).

 I’d like to thank Galvin at Windows for asking me to take part in the Galvin Cup and wish all of the competitors the very best of luck.'

'Four weeks to go and the competition feels like it already has a life of its own, its has been great to hear from friends both old and new finalising their plans for the big day. I never imagined that the competition would grow into something so special in the bars calender quite so quickly. Ihave so many people to thank for their tireless support and energy (Luca, Dan, Russel & Zoe, Robbie, Nigel to name but a few) Icant tell you how proud I am of the competitors who have put so much thought effort and creativity into their entries, as a keen competitor of many culinary competitions myself I know that it takes a lot of courage and spirit to compete with your peers especially in front of the crowds the Galvin cup is now attracting. I always think that although there has to be overall winners,thereality is that everyone achieves something by being chosen to represent their hotel,bar or college. I alsothink it shows just how proud your employers and lecturers are of you. Finally I would also like to thank the supporters and friends of the competitors, they really add to the day, they play a big part in creating the atmosphere on the day.'

chin chin

Chris

Video filmed and edited by Katherine Alano, community editor of Caterer's new networking site Table Talk. www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk

'As the Galvin competition draws ever closer, excitement is starting to build around London and beyond. I have had entries and enquiries from a couple of venues in Manchester, and also from some of the top London hotels such as the Connaught.

The committee met recently to view the facilities at the Dorchester and I was very impressed by the rooms we will be using for the competition. We will be filming the competition for streaming through the Caterer website and this will look very professional.

In terms of the ingredients for the competition, we are close to the launch of the new Belvedere maceration, Black Raspberry. Competitors will be able to use this flavour as well as the existing macerations, Cytrus (lemon and lime) and Pomarancza (Mandarin and Orange blossom). I am very excited to taste all of the wonderful drinks!'

'Hospitality must be one of the few industries where you can have fun while you develop your social and business skills.  If you are not passionate and committed, however, you will not get far.  It is an industry that offers many opportunities, transferable skills, the chance to travel and responsibility at an early age if you have ambition.

Take advantage of the industry's great training schemes and support networks and get to the front of the queue by getting the right qualifications.

This is an exciting time to work in the UK hospitality industry and Galvin at Windows is leading the way with their continued focus on quality, service excellence and customer delight.  The Galvin Cup initiative aims to benchmark the best in the industry and allow creativity and inspiration to flourish.  This year's competition will provide a platform for the contestants to show their passion and flair in bartending and what it takes to make it to the top. 

Galvin at Windows constantly endeavour to entertain and apsire to create a memorable experience for their guests and The Galvin Cup encourages participants to perform and put on a show.'

'I thought I knew cocktails, that is until I joined the judging team at last year's Galvin Cup. I sauntered in there thinking I knew what was what. But I quickly realised that, compared to my fellow judges, I was a casual observer. 

A slip of a lad next to men with over thirty years front line experience at some of the best bars and restaurants in Europe.   I felt humbled.  

So I've upped my game this year and got into full training. I've eschewed the vodka tonics in favour of more cocktails. Lunch meetings are swapped in favour of early evening drinks.

I'm starting to learn more about the science of the cocktail. And I'm even toying with the idea of buying Cocktail (Tom Cruise's 1988 film) on DVD.  

Well maybe that last one is going a bit far.

But rest assured I'll have put the hours in.  

I've never enjoyed training so much in my life...'

There are some great prizes up for grabs for this year's winners, including:

Professional - 1st prize £1500 and the Galvin Cup  

Student - Barman/woman position at Galvin at Windows and the Galvin Cup  

Numerous special prizes such as: a stay at the Hilton on Park Lane; a meal for two at Galvin at Windows; a meal at The Dorchester; a magnum each of Moet and Belvedere, as well as distillery trips.  

If that's not incentive enough, check out our committee page for info on all the industry stars and experts involved in The Galvin Cup 2009.