A team from Raymond Blanc’s Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons has won the European Roussillon Dessert Trophy.
The trophy was presented in Perpignan this week to the chef sommelier team at the celebrated Oxfordshire hotel, for their dessert – a Sable Breton topped with manjari chocolate mousse and black figs infused with star anise and blackberries.
It was paired with a biodynamic Rivesaltes Rouge Caricia 2005 from Domaine Gauby.
Twenty-two-year-old Anne Coquelin, the first commis pastry chef, and 24-year-old assistant chef sommelier Thibaut Panas beat off stiff competition from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany and Holland.
This is the second year of the biennial competition. The UK team was selected at the final in London in September 2009, where they beat contestants from Maze and Tom Aikens.
The Trophy is run by the Conseil Interprofessionel des Vins du Roussillon (CIVR).
Written by Sarah-Jane Evans
