Chef of the Year

Jeffrey Vella, 28, executive sous chef at the Grand Hotel Mercure Coralia San Antonio of Qawra (second from left) has won the European Chef of the Year Award in the Festival International de la Gastonomie held in Malta earlier this month.

Charles Bellia, chef de partie, won a gold medal for his original Maltese dish. A silver medal and a "merit" were awarded to chef de partie Robert Frendo and pastry chef Aaron Degabriele. All worked in the same hotel.

With Mr Vella are Massimo Azzopardi, food and beverage manager, Simon Gatt, executive head chef, Robert Frendo, Charles Bellia, Aaron Degabriele and general manager Oliver Hick.