Telegraph columnist Angela Hartnett wins Female Chef of the Year award

A new industry award launched this summer by Champagne AYALA and SquareMeal has been won by Angela Hartnett. The Telegraph columnist and chef-owner of Murano (the Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year), received the inaugural award for Female Chef of the Year and was hailed by SquareMeal editor Ben McCormack for her "sound business sense, sheer consistency and for being an icon and inspiration across her 24-year career."

Hartnett, McCormack said, has "proved that you can be a female chef in the male-dominated world of restaurant kitchens without having to become one of the boys," and he went on to commend her approach to "offering more sociable hours and flexible working conditions for her teams."

Hartnett launched Murano with Gordon Ramsay and, after buying him out in 2010, went on to open two acclaimed Cafe ­Muranos, as well as Merchants Tavern, in London, and a restaurant, Hartnett, Holder & Co, at the Lime Wood hotel in Hampshire, as well as consulting on restaurants abroad.

On accepting the award, she said, “It’s so good that there are so many female chefs now. The restaurant trade is changing for the better. If this encourages young girls coming into our industry, then it’s a great thing to do.”

The shortlisted chefs for the award were:

• Nieves Barragan Mohacho, Sabor

• Ravinder Bhogal, Jikoni

• Erchen Chang, Bao and Xu

• Sam Clark, Moro and Morito

• Helene Darroze, Helene Darroze at The Connaught

• Shauna Froydenlund, Marcus

• Monica Galetti, Mere

• Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Northcote

• Skye Gyngell, Spring

• Anna Hansen, The Modern Pantry

• Margot Henderson, Rochelle Canteen

• Rachel Humphrey, Le Gavroche

• Asma Khan, Darjeeling Express

• Selin Kiazim, Oklava

• Judy Joo, Jinjuu

• Thomasina Miers, Wahaca

• Chantelle Nicholson, Tredwells

• Sarit Packer, Honey & Co, Honey & Smoke

• Anne-Sophie Pic, La Dame de Pic

• Helena Puolakka, Skylon

• Clare Smyth, Core by Clare Smyth

• Ruth Rogers, The River Café

Clare Smyth, a fellow Ramsay alumni who was recently awarded a second Michelin Star at her restaurant, Core by Clare Smyth, was crowned the world's best female chef in June by the World's 50 Best Restaurant Awards – a gong she found "strange", stating her hope that "very soon we don't need gender-specific awards because women will have recognition and there will be a balance in the industry."

Hartnett's award was the result of an online poll on SquareMeal.co.uk which saw users cast almost 1,500 votes for their favourite female chefs.