TheMoodieReport.com

TheMoodieReport.com: "Food, glorious food: FAB awards in pictures � 30/06/06
Source: �The Moodie Report
By Mary Jane Pittilla; Photos courtesy of BAA
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UK. As the VIP invitations requested, more than 200 guests 'dressed to impress' for last night's third annual FAB awards in London, organised by BAA to reward and recognise its UK airport catering staff.

Co-hosted by BAA Retail Director Stephen Nelson, the awards honoured the people who contribute so much to BAA's non-aeronautical revenues at its world-class airports (see earlier story). F&B is all about the 'art of giving', he said. To help illustrate this point, he played three videos of airport catering facilities past and present; the BAA baristas' consummate skills in preparing coffee; and customers commenting on what they thought of airport meals.

The other co-host was suave celebrity chef James Martin, who had just flown in from Dubai where he is opening several restaurants.

A Yorkshireman made (very) good � at least in the eyes of the female guests present � Martin regaled the audience with tales from his time at the British stately home Castle Howard (made famous in Brideshead Revisited), where his father was head chef. Four-year-old James started out helping his father butter bread for sandwiches and a few years later graduated to preparing meals for VIP visitors on a grand scale � for the late Queen Mother, no less. HRH asked to meet the chef. When she discovered it was young James, she looked surprised. 'She never came back again,' quipped James. "

Last but by no means least, Nelson paid tribute to his own team at BAA who made it all happen. The team includes Jill Tansley, who co-ordinated the event with the utmost skill and professionalism; Catherine Peachey who kicked off the evening's speeches just three weeks after giving birth to her daughter Laura; and Colin Hargrave, BAA's indefatigable Managing Director of UK Airport Retail.