Our Story
This competition is being run in memory of Ray Kenny, a highly regarded chef who sadly died in 2007.
Born in Dublin, Ray trained as a chef at the Dorchester Hotel, London and at various hotels in Switzerland.
Ray taught catering at Ealing College for many years where he influenced & passed on his vast skills to a new generation of student chefs. In 1984 Ray & his wife Isabelle realised their dream of a ‘retirement home with a difference’ when they bought Castle Grove. His wide knowledge of hotels and haute cuisine was, and still is, to this day, reflected in the level of service and care at Castle Grove.
Ray was a ‘traditional’ chef full of culinary and cookery knowledge. He had a passion for good food & quality ingredients which had been prepared honestly and effectively; he had a particular flair in butchery & detested food wastage! In 2024 Castle Grove celebrates its 40th year now in the capable hands of Lucy Bull, the next generation of the family.
The aim of this competition & bursary is to ‘widen the horizons of budding chefs in the Westcountry’.
