Chef Anna Hansen named the 2010 New Zealander of the Year in the UK

London chef and restaurant owner Anna Hansen has been named the 2010 New Zealander of the Year in the UK.



Established in 1999 by the New Zealand Society the award is annually given to an individual who promotes a positive image of New Zealand in the UK.



Hansen, chef founder of the Modern Pantry restaurant, said she ‘’thrilled and honoured’’ to win the award.



At 16, working part time in a Nelson deli, Hansen told her Danish mother that she wanted to be a chef. She was into her 20s before she first trained as a chef, in London. Going on to work under Peter Gordon at the Sugar Club, they opened The Providores together in 2001.



Hansen moved on in 2005 to explore her own philosophy with a food style she likes to term as modern global food.



She opened The Modern Pantry restaurant in August 2008, and it has quickly become a well known destination on the London restaurant scene. The other finalists were Juliet Harbutt, cheese champion and Geoff Sewell, an opera singer.



Scott Carr, Air New Zealand’s general manager for Europe said Hansen absolutely embodied the ``passionate Kiwi spirit with her huge drive and commitment for things New Zealand in all her efforts in the UK culinary scene”.



Past winners have included Commonwealth secretary general Don McKinnon, rowing coach Harry Mahon, chef Peter Gordon, show jumper Mark Todd and golfer Michael Campbell.