Picture shows (left to right) Gaetano Bauso, Founder/Director of Etnacoffee, Dipna Anand and Gulu Anand of Brilliant Restaurants
Brilliant Restaurant Southall was awarded ‘Best International Kitchen’ at the prestigious Hospitality Awards UK 2024 held on Monday evening at a glittering event at the Law Society in Chancery Lane, London, coinciding with the global celebration of the ‘Week of Italian Cuisine in the World.’
Under the patronage of the Consulate General of Italy in London, the evening rolled out the red carpet to recognize and celebrate excellence in the UK hospitality industry.
The gala commenced with a warm welcome by the Italian Consul General, Domenico Bellantone, who highlighted the significance of the awards in promoting culinary excellence and fostering cultural ties between Italy and the UK.
Fifteen of the UK’s most remarkable hospitality talents, including Dipna Anand and her father Gulu Anand, co-owners of the Brilliant group of restaurants, were celebrated at the event.
Dipna Anand says that receiving the award was a great honour: “We were delighted to have been invited along to such a prestigious event, and when Brilliant was announced as an award winner, we were so surprised!
“Brilliant Restaurant Southall is celebrating its 50th year and my family has 150 years of history in the hospitality industry. We are proud to have established such strong links with the community in and around Southall, but this award shows that the reputation of Brilliant extends much further and is a great endorsement of the national and international recognition that we have achieved.”
Here is the full line-up of award winners:
Best Gelateria: Unico (collected by Gianfranco Zola)
Best Chef: Baldassarre Amodio
Best Cookery Book Author: Danilo Cortellini
Best Restaurant Owner: Simone Remoli & Francesca Tarquini
Best Food Communicator: Alessandro Allocca
Rising Star: Alicia Rees
Best Young Chef: James Sharp Lifetime Achievement: Stuart Bowery
Lifetime Achievement: Ursula Ferrigno
Best Barman: Salvatore Maggio
Best Pizzaiolo: Marco Fuso
Best Hotel General Manager: Guillaume Marly FIH MI
Best Concierge: Emanuele Andrisani
Best International Kitchen: Brilliant Southall (collected by Gulu and Dipna Anand)
Reflecting on the evening, Stefano Potortì, President of UK Confederation by Confassociazioni, remarked: “The Hospitality Awards UK celebrates the brilliance of our industry, which thrives on passion, innovation, and dedication. Tonight, we have honoured not just individual achievements but also the collective spirit of excellence that drives our sector forward. This event reinforces the invaluable connection between Italy and the UK in shaping the future of hospitality.”
Francesca Dassori, Director of APCI-UK, added: “It has been an honour to co-host this magnificent celebration of culinary artistry and hospitality excellence. These awards are a testament to the skill, creativity, and dedication of all the professionals who enrich our lives through their work. I am proud of the community we’ve built and look forward to seeing it continue to flourish.”