Cesarani made his name teaching students at Ealing Technical College how to cook, and was joint author of what became an industry standard text Ceserani and Kinton’s Practical Cookery, written with colleague Ronnnie Kinton.
Ealing College has now become the University of West London and the guests at the lunch were Vic Laws of AVL Consultancy (who was taught to cook by Cesarani in 1960); Stephen Boxall, managing director of The Ritz (where Cesarani started work in 1935); Alistair Telfer, secretary of Oxford and Cambridge Club; Professor David Foskett of UWL; Judith Cannon, taught by Cesarani in 1970; Cesarani himself and Sara Jayne-Stanes of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts.
Laws said: “I was delighted to help organise the event, having also looked after his 90th and we two Victors are looking forward to being together at his 100th.”
During World War II Ceserani worked as an officers mess cook and continued as a chef in the post-war years until moving into teaching at Acton Catering School.
He later took over as head of Ealing and was awarded an MBE for services to catering education in 1974. In 1980 he finally retired.