Calling all chefs

The search is now on to find Dorset's Young Seafood Masterchef of the Year as part of this year's Dorset Seafood Festival.

Run in association with Weymouth College, the competitions aim is to encourage and provide a stage to showcase Dorset's talented young cooks.

Open to permanent residents aged 17 to 25 Dorset's Young Seafood Masterchef of the Year will be a 4 stage competition with the final being judged on Sunday 12th July, at Dorset Seafood Festival by Mark Hix and Mat Follas, 2009 Masterchef winner.

To enter the competition entrants can download an entry form from the Dorset Seafood Festival website www.dorsetseafood.co.uk or the Weymouth College website www.weymouth.ac.uk . Entry forms will also be available at Weymouth College and Timewalk reception in Brewer's Quay.

The first stage of the event is to submit a recipe for a main course dish, which would be suitable to serve in a busy working kitchen and must feature sustainable Dorset Seafood and other locally sourced ingredients. The dish must take no longer than 20 minutes to prepare and serve.

The eight successful entrants will be notified by 18th June and will be invited to a 'Cook Off' at Weymouth College on Tuesday 23rd June at 2.30pm. Here entrants will cook their submitted dish, supplying ingredients and any specialist cookware that they may need.

The semi-final and final will be held on 11th & 12th July where the contestants will be invited to take to the celebrity chef main stage to cook in front of a public audience.

The two finalists will be interviewed by Mark Hix or Mat Follas who together will decide who will be named Dorset Young's Seafood Masterchef of the Year.

The winner will receive a day's work experience in Mark Hix's Oyster & Fish House Restaurant in Lyme Regis, Global Kitchen Knife Set valued at £250, Theme Night Meal for 4 (excluding drinks) at Cygnets Restaurant Weymouth College and a Trophy/Shield, engraved and retained by winner for one year.

Entries must reach Weymouth College by post or hand no later than 5pm on the 15th June.

Words: Maria Bracken

« Back to previous page