YBFs launch front of house award to recognise restaurant staff
The Young British Foodies awards, known as the YBF’s, will launch a new category this year that recognises London’s best front of house.
This will be open to all sommeliers, managers, waiters, maitre d’s and reception staff, and is the first time the awards have acknowledged talent on the other side of the pass to the kitchen.
The award is being championed by Natalia Ribbe of hospitality company Eighty Six List, and will be judged by Bubbledogs co-owner and head sommelier Sandia Chang and Joanne Searley of JKS Restaurants, which is behind Trishna, Gymkhana, Lyle’s and Hoppers.
Natalia says that much of front of house has previously been neglected in mainstream awards: “Some elements of front of house are represented — bartenders are acknowledged as well as restaurateurs — but there is this massive portion of the industry that is left out.”
She continues: “As an expat who moved here after seven years in New York, I was stunned to find how a restaurant career was regarded, or perhaps not regarded in London… I think with something like the YBFs shining light on front of house it could have an incredible effect on the way it is perceived and more people might take notice of the stars of the restaurant scene that are not in the kitchen.”
Those in the industry can put themselves forward for the award now by visiting the-ybfs.com. Other categories open for entries include chef, baking, alcohol, meat, vegetable, street food and food writing and food sharing, which recognises those who spread the word about food through social media.
Despite the name of the awards, there is no age limit on entrants, with the ideas and visions involved supposed to be young rather than the people themselves.
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