Bravery – Mikael Jonsson at Hedone. The former Swedish lawyer is passionate and obsessed about obtaining the best ingredients.

One Person’s Passion – Petra Barran of eat.st – her own mobile van Choc Star revealed to her the animating effect of food sold on the streets. She runs the site with Giles Smith and Gareth Davies

Warmth and Welcome – Xavier Rousset – the ideal knowledgeable and approachable guide on a voyage of vinous discovery. You eat very well but you leave better informed and determined to break your old wine choosing habits.

Understanding of Ceremony – The right kind of ritual around a meal can enhance enjoyment in a very particular way. Winners: Christopher Corbin and Jeremy King and manager Robert Holland

Discovery – Brixton Village. Recently described by Jay Rayner as ‘the most exciting radical venture on the British restaurant scene right now’.

Fun – Where there is fun, there is always customers. WInner: Russell Norman for Spuntino.

EROS award for the Spirit of London – Eric Narioom Ed Wilson and Oli Barker of Brawn in Columbia Road

High Street Hero – Tom Byng of Byron

American Express Award for Inspiration – Roganic

The Laurent Perrier Pioneer Award – Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

Best performing Voucher – The Blind Tiger

Best £25 Menu – Kopapa

Best £20 Menu – Cinnamon Club

Best £15 Menu – Tentazioni

Best £10 Menu – Ping Pong

Gill and Meades centred on the cultural impact of describing certain food as ‘ethnic’ and how these boundaries should not exist, while Singh Kohli and Dickson Wright focused on the obvious distinction between different plates of food and how an ethnic label serves a purpose and should therefore be acknowledged. The debate was thrown open to the audience – the majority of whom were against the motion – whose questions were robustly tackled by the panel. Adrian Gill’s round-up two minute speech – on how food is food across all cultures and we should embrace that – was a definite highlight.

Although the audience was against the motion by 143 to 82 on entering the debate, it had shifted to 164 to 103 afterwards. So while more people voted (ie fewer abstensions) the proportion of those agreeing with Gill and Meades went up. A small victory for them even though the final verdict was for the Ethnic Food label.

Sat – the hugely talented chef who has a Michelin star from his eponymous Restaurant with Rooms – took to the Gallery restaurant kitchen to produce some truly inventive dishes including the stand-out Belly Pork (with crackling, Granny Smith apple and piccalilli), as well as Organic Salmon (oyster soup, passion fruit, miso), Slow Cooked Mutton (shallot textures, pickled elderberries), ‘Cheese On Toast’ and a finale of Autumn Berries (yoghurt, hazelnut, crispy meringue).

We marvelled at the salty, sweet and sour medley of fatty pork belly with deconstructed piccalilli

Highlights:

We marvelled at the salty, sweet and sour medley of fatty pork belly with deconstructed piccalilli and tiny cubes of apple before the very elegant creamy oyster soup specked with puffed rice, pickled cucumber and chunks of raw salmon.

The Gallery Restaurant – in the Fortnum’s mezzanine, with grand windows overlooking Jermyn and Duke Street – was a-buzz with critics and guests, enjoying the culinary spirit of the Carnival and the impeccable old school Fortnum’s service. Although Sat Bains himself did not make an appearance on the Gallery floor, he was hands-on to produce some of his Michelin-star signature dishes. Extraordinary value at £33.

Chefs taking part in the Culinary Carnival over the coming days include:

4 Oct: Philip Britten, Solstice – The Root of Real Food
5/6 Oct: Shaun Hill, The Walnut Tree
7/8 Oct: Nigel Haworth, Northcote Manor
9 Oct: Adam Simmonds, Danesfield House
10/11 Oct: Nathan Outlaw, Restaurant Nathan Outlaw
12/13 Oct: Sue and Roger Jones, The Harrow at Little Bedwyn
14/15 Oct: Daniel Galmiche, The Vineyard at Stockcross
16 Oct: Brian Turner, Brian Turner Restaurant

While navigating a three-course menu that started with rabbit terrine, pistachios, dried fruit, foie gras, pickled vegetables and a poached egg, nine tables competed to answer foodie questions such as, ‘Which TV chef famous for a bossy presenting style reportedly said “I would sooner put a baby in the refrigerator than an egg”‘? Email jo.ascherl@londonrestaurantfestival.com for the answer, and to receive the full list of questions to test your culinary knowledge.

The last round was written by LRF’s Chair Fay Maschler and the most coveted prize was wine and cheese masterclasses by Paxton and Whitfield – who will be at the LRF’s Suppliers’ Market this week. Twitter’s colourful Ms Marmite Lover was on the winning table.

Jeremy Lee is head chef at the Design Museum’s Blueprint Cafe www.blueprintcafe.co.uk, and is working on the stage production of The Kitchen at the National Theatre.