UK chef Adam Bennett will compete for his place in the Bocuse d’Or world final at Bocuse d’Or Europe 2014 in Stockholm on May 8. The heats will take place during Sweden’s largest culinary exhibition, Gastronord.

Bennett, head chef at The Cross in Kenilworth, will compete in Kitchen 2, supported by commis chef Josh Allen also from The Cross, and coach Idris Caldora, who was the UK’s candidate in 1999.

Chefs from 20 countries will compete over the two-day competition, with the 12 top scoring teams progressing to the world final in Lyon in January 2015. Each team needs to prepare a fish plate using coalfish, Belon oysters and blue mussels and a meat course using ham on the bone and the trotters of Swedish young pigs, along with the blood or hog casing. Each course must be served with at least one garnish with further details to be specified in the coming weeks.

Along with the UK, teams from Germany, Spain, Turkey, France, Italy, Estonia, Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, Bulgaria, Finland, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, Iceland, Sweden, Luxembourg, Belgium and Russia will be participating in the European heat.

It will be Bennett’s second time competing in what is claimed to be the world’s most challenging competition. He previously competed in the world final in January 2013, when he and his commis chef Kristian Curtis secured fourth place along with the best meat and commis prizes.