DOES Dorset have the best chef in the south west?
The hunt is on for the South West Junior Chef of the Year as this prestigious regional competition opens for entries.
The ‘junior’ category is exclusively for 11-16 year-olds who are still at school.
It is also an opportunity for budding chefs to experience cooking in a professional kitchen and be mentored by accomplished chefs.
Other categories in the South West Chef of the Year are: Professional, Young Professional, Student Chef and Home Cook.
Michael Caines, judge and co-founder of the competition said: “South West Chef is a very exciting opportunity for young people who love to cook.
"It is a chance to create a plate of food of their design, in a fully equipped kitchen.
"It’s very rewarding to see careers being formed as a result of SW Chef and the competition helps us continue to celebrate the exceptional produce we have in the South West.”
Last year’s winner, Melissa Johnson of Ottery St Mary in Devon said: "My advice would be to have a go, and if you’re lucky enough to win, then take up the opportunities of work experience and demonstrations because they are brilliant.’
Those interested in entering are invited to submit their recipe for a main course to feed two people made proportionally from ingredients sourced from the West Country region.
The entry can be emailed and should include the cooking method in full as well as a photograph of the finished dish.
All recipes submitted will be judged by professional chefs and those selected to go through to the second round will be invited to cook-offs held at county level in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire.
Here the young cooks will be asked to cook and present their dish in 90 minutes.
Announced at the end of October, the Junior South West Chef of the Year will receive exciting prizes including a Robert Welch Signature chef’s knife and sharpener and work experience with David Everitt-Matthias at the two Michelin-starred Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham.
Entry is via an online entry form available at southwestchef.co.uk/how-to-enter/.
Entry to the Junior category closes on 31st July 2015.
CONTACT ME:
t: 01305 830984
e: tanita.matthews@dorsetecho.co.uk
twitter: @DorsetEchoTM
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