Àclèaf’s Restaurant Manager is now a Master of Culinary Arts for Service
We are thrilled to share that Andréa, Restaurant Manager at Àclèaf, has been awarded a Master of Culinary Arts for Service – one of the hospitality industry’s highest honours.
Held just once every four years, the Master of Culinary Arts (MCA) recognises craftsmanship and excellence across three disciplines: Culinary Skills, Pastry and Service. The award is overseen by a panel of esteemed judges from across the hospitality industry.
To earn the title, Andréa progressed through multiple rounds of demanding assessments before this year’s achievers were announced at a Gala dinner at The Dorchester. Reflecting on the experience, she says:
“I did not believe it at first when everyone said the final was the ‘easiest’ part, but it truly was. It is what I love doing day to day: looking after our guests. I will always remember the welcome at the Flo bar. That was the moment I realised who I was going to look after, and the day finally began. I will also remember the way Zoe (my commis) conducted herself under so much pressure. I was very impressed.
“Being presented with my medal was an absolute dream come true. The emotions were overwhelming. I had dreamt of hearing my name for as long as I can remember. Only discovering the result on the night is quite challenging, to say the least, but it was all worth it in the end. When John Williams MBE placed the medal over my head, everything stopped.”
Andréa shares the honour with a remarkable group of fellow achievers and finalists, who supported one another from the very first day.
“They have become my friends for life. We all had our doubts and our hard times, but we did it together. There was no competition, just pure friendship and support from very passionate individuals. From the Gala dinner, I will always remember screaming at the top of my lungs when they announced Tom, Valerio, Thomas and Michel’s names, and the genuine smiles from my mentors when I came on stage, so happy that I had achieved it. The genuine love I felt on the night is something I will cherish forever.”
For Andréa, the award is both a professional milestone and a deeply personal one.
“Professionally, it builds confidence. Becoming an MCA is not something that happens every day, so it shows that I am doing something right. This does not mean it is over – far from it. Now it is time to give back all the incredible knowledge I have acquired. Personally, I always wanted to make my family and friends proud. It is never easy to be away for the special moments, the hard times or even the simple day to day, but I hope they all know that I am happy and thriving in my adopted country.”
Àclèaf is a MICHELIN-Starred restaurant with four AA Rosettes, set within our five-star Boringdon Hall hotel on the edge of Dartmoor. As Restaurant Manager, Andréa leads the exceptional service Àclèaf is known for. During the final, every single detail was judged, and Andréa wants the team to carry that same care into every evening.
“Some details might sound very particular, but they do make an impact. The more you care for these small details, the more you care for the whole experience, and that is a philosophy I want the team to apply. Skills are one thing to have, but hospitality is about how you make people feel. Àclèaf has always had that generosity at the heart of its service.”
Looking ahead, Andréa is excited to work with the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and to meet students at Exeter College and Truro and Penwith College.
“The world is still my oyster, and one dream always hides another. This is only the beginning of my journey. I want nothing more than to give back, to carry on the torch of my mentors and share it with the new generation. I am still incredibly passionate about the South West – there is so much beauty in the people, the food and everything the region has to offer.”
All of us at Philema Hospitality Management are extremely proud of Andréa. We love to see our team members flourish and go far, and her achievement is a wonderful example of the passion and dedication found across our hotels. Her award is thoroughly deserved, and we can't wait to see what comes next for her.
