The search is on for Kent's best young chef

Last year's finalist Lara Foyle with Richard Phillips at Chapel Down

This week sees the launch of the Kent Young Chef Award competition and budding local chefs have got until 29 October to get their entries in.

The competition, set up by Produced in Kent, is open to all secondary school children in the county of Kent who are in year groups 7-11.

It calls on entrants to create and write out a main course recipe using local seasonal ingredients and produce.

Hopefuls must fill in an official entry form available on Produced in Kent's website at www.producedinkent.co uk and email their entries to youngchef@wac.uk.com.

Created by local food and drink "champions" the competition, now in its second year, aims to encourage the county's secondary school children to get in the kitchen.

Entrants will be judged by their ability to create an imaginative main course recipe using local and seasonal ingredients.

Following its successful debut last year, with close to 200 entries, the organisers are expecting an even larger response this year.

The authors of the eight best recipes will again be invited to compete at a live cook-off in November at catering school Thanet College in front of an expert judging panel who will decide one winner each for both the junior and senior categories.

The line-up of judges are described as "prestigious" and include BBC TV star Richard Phillips, who has appeared on Ready Steady Cook and is the owner of four restaurants including Thackeray's, The Hengist and Richard Phillips at Chapel Down.

Also on the panel will be Claire Wood, head chef of the Woods Restaurant, Produce Store & bars in Tunbridge Wells.

And Roger Phillips, head of catering and hospitality at Thanet College will also be helping to decide on the winners.

As well as the Junior and Senior 'Kent Young Chef Award' 2010 titles, the winners will be given "two hands-on chef experiences" as part of their prize.

The first experience will be with Richard Phillips at one of his Kent restaurants. The second challenge will involve both the junior and senior category winners who will help Claire Wood devise a menu suitable for the Kent Young Chef Award Charity Dinner, where the winners will be the guests of honour.

Words: Georgiana Ndlovu

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