Executive Chef Aaron Tong wins British Culinary Federation University Chef Award 2026
University of Leeds Executive Chef Aaron Tong won the University Chef Award at the prestigious British Culinary Federation Awards 2026, hosted at The Grand Hotel, Birmingham.
This award recognises the university chefs who has best demonstrated exceptional professionalism, leadership and commitment to maintaining outstanding culinary standards within higher education.
A culinary career rooted in higher education
Aaron has built an impressive career dedicated to the higher education sector. He began his culinary journey under the mentorship of Michael Caines MBE at The Clarence Hotel in Exeter. During this time, he developed a strong foundation in classical culinary and a commitment to excellence, which continue to shape his approach today.
Before joining the University of Leeds, Aaron held a number of roles in multiple higher education institutions. These include the University of Exeter, the University of Sheffield, the University of York, and the University of Huddersfield. Through these positions, he developed extensive expertise in leading high-performing teams. He also gained significant experience in delivering exceptional food experiences in complex, high-volume environments.
Raising the standard for catering at Leeds
As Executive Chef, Aaron provides strategic and operational leadership across a diverse catering portfolio at the University of Leeds. This includes Great Food at Leeds retail outlets, Deli(very) and Conferences and Events. He champions fresh, seasonal cooking and works closely with his team to showcase high-quality local produce. Together, they combine creativity and expertise to deliver memorable dining experiences for every guest.
Under Aaron’s leadership, the Catering service has won various prestigious awards across the culinary and hospitality industries. At The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO) Chef Competitions in 2025, chef Andy Cornall achieved two individual wins, while Aaron and Rob Hargreaves earned Gold in the Team Challenge category.
The team’s success continued in April 2026, as chefs Rob, Andy and Szczepan Swierkosz won Gold and Silver awards across multiple categories.
Ben Collier, Head of Catering and Hospitality commented:
“Aaron’s award is testament to the passion, creativity, and professionalism he applies to his role. His expertise is helping to drive our departmental strategy forward and further strengthen the University’s reputation for delivering outstanding catering, hospitality, conferences, and events.”
Congratulations to Chef Aaron! To find out more about our catering provision and sample menus, visit Catering.