On Friday 1 July, the Leiths Diploma graduation ceremony took place after three terms of intensive training in the Leiths kitchens. Each year, the exceptional two and three term Diploma students are carefully selected for the top diploma prizes, with previous winners including Gizzi Erskine and Lulu Grimes. Sponsored by Laurent-Perrier, Louis Latour, BBC Good Food Magazine, and new sponsor, ASDA, the awards recognise outstanding performances by students, both on overall merit, and in their final practical and theory exams.
The top prize, the 2012 Laurent-Perrier Student of the Year, presented by David Hesketh managing director of Laurent-Perrier UK, went to Salima Dhalla, after she was voted best student by the teachers. Salima has won an all-expenses paid trip for two to the private Laurent-Perrier cellars in Tours-sur-Marne, with an overnight stay in the culinary city of Reims. Furthermore Salima was the runner up of the Louis Latour Wine Student of the Year.
Emily Kydd then won not only the Louis Latour Award for Wine Student of the Year but also the BBC Good Food Award. Winning a trip for two to Beaune, where she will be taken on a tour of the prestigious vineyards and cellars at Maison Louis Latour.
The celebrations continued at Pierre Koffman’s restaurant in the Berkley Hotel on the Wed 4 July, with lunch for the winners hosted by the Leiths Directors and sponsors with further guests including Leiths alumni and journalists.
Magnums of Laurent-Perrier Brut Champagne were served before guests sat down to enjoy a menu personally created by Pierre Koffman.
