Every year, the F&B Masters is held by Hilton to celebrate the future leaders from the food and beverage industry, as team members of Hilton unleash their talent through a series of challenges. The competition has just returned for the 2019 edition, with the first phase concluded on 29 January 2019 at Conrad Hong Kong. After an exciting showing of epicurean knowledge and expertise, winners were selected to represent the hotel and realize their potential in the regional finals in March.
The Hilton F&B Masters echoes the values of Thrive@Hilton, an initiative which focuses on the team members’ well-being and reinforces their career and personal development, aiding their growth in the field of hospitality. The contest is divided into different regions of the world and disciplines — barista, bartender, culinary, dessert and sommelier. Not only a great occasion to develop key skills and demonstrate their strengths, the competition also provides team members a chance to gain valuable experience and connect with the other gifted contestants from sister properties in various countries.
As a member of the Hilton establishments in the Greater China and Mongolia Region, Conrad Hong Kong has chosen five bright talents to represent the hotel in an internal competition. More than 30 team members from different departments took on an array of challenges, from blind wine tasting to cooking up multiple dishes. With their skills and creativity on full display, the panel of judges made up with seasoned industry professionals, senior management team and hotel general manager Thomas Hoeborntook great care in their deliberation to select the most equipped contenders for the regional finals.
The winners from the five respective categories are: Luna Tang (Lobby Lounge, barista), Dimitar Ho (Pacific Bar, bartender), Jonathan Chan (Garden Cafe, culinary), Felix So (pastry kitchen, dessert) and Gary Yeung (Brasserie on the Eighth, sommelier). They will take part in the Cluster Qualifying Round of the competition in March against the representatives from the other Hilton hotels in South China, in the hopes of advancing to the Final Round, which will take place in May in Wuhan, China.
Conrad Hong Kong is no stranger to success in the Hilton F&B Masters. In the 2017 edition of the contest, all five of the hotel’s representatives won the South China regional competition, and the rights to appear in the Hilton F&B Masters final and participate in the annual regional Food and Beverage Conference. Two contestants eventually took home the coveted the champions of Bartender Cup and Dessert Cup in the Greater China Region final.
“It was exhilarating to see such an impressive showcase of talent. Every team member gave their all, which made our decisions very hard,” said Thomas Hoeborn, general manager at Conrad Hong Kong. “I would like to congratulate the winners from all the categories and wish them the best of luck in the next phases of the competition.”
“The competition today proved that our team members always strive for the best. They work and learn with great passion, and when they were given a chance, they made the most of it and shone. I am very excited to see their progress in the future,” said Claudio Rossi, executive chef at Conrad Hong Kong.
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