Hilton wins StrEATfood Awards
Eliot Hilton from Houston and Hawkes took home the main award at last night’s StrEATfood Awards. He won the title of Street Food Dish of the Year for his squid ink bao buns. Adam Collison from Sodexo and Stuart Dale from Mellors Catering were also lauded, winning StrEATFood Chef of the Year and Meat-Free Dish of the Year respectively.
The 16 finalists, who all work in contract catering, were shortlisted after subjecting their signature street food dishes for our panel of judges. David Brett-Lavelle from Elior and Maca Makaveli from Snaffle Caterers came second and third respectively in the main competition.
Hilton said: “I got engaged in Lanzarote and I had some baby squid bao buns. About a week after I got back from holiday, my director of food said, ‘Do you want to enter a street food competition?’ So I took inspiration from that.
“I’ve loved this event, it’s the first one that I’ve competed in. I was so, so nervous before I started – I cannot tell you how nervous I was! – but I just did what I had to do and I somehow ended up winning.
“I was not expecting to win at all, not one bit. I gave my all, I did my best, so to get this… I’m blown away. It was unbelievable.”
The event was sponsored by Bewley’s, Britvic, Kerrymaid, Major, Theo’s, Tugo and Quorn. For more information, go to www.streatfoodawards.co.uk.
Street Food Dish of the Year
1st Eliot Hilton – Houston & Hawkes
2nd David Brett-Lavelle - Elior
3rd Maca Makaveli – Snaffle Caterers
Street Food Chef of the Year
1st Adam Collison - Sodexo
2nd Jack Wager – BaxterStorey
3rd Lee Taylor - Academy, Atalian Servest
Meat Free Dish of the Year
1st Stuart Dale – Mellors
2nd Jamie Bosworth – Blue Apple
3rd Troy Gill – CH&Co