Heat Is On For Trainee Chefs

Published 14 Apr 2010 11:17 0 Comments

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Competition amongst trainee chefs in Cumnock and Doon Valley is set to sizzle after a leading food festival began a search for Scotland's next culinary rising star.

The ScottishPower Apprentice Chef Challenge with Taste of Edinburgh was launched today and seeks to find outstanding chef talent. Up-and-coming chefs from across Ayrshire are being encouraged to enter.

The chef competition is open to all trainee and recently qualified chefs from

across Scotland. Entrants are being asked to submit seasonal Scottish recipes (one main course and one dessert), by April 29.

The winner of a cook-off style challenge will be rewarded with a six-month placement at Malmaison/Hotel Du Vin - one of the 10 restaurants participating in this year's Taste of Edinburgh festival.

Flavour, healthy eating, visual appeal, seasonality, sustainability and provenance will all be taken into consideration, before the overall winner is announced and offered the exclusive placement.

The winning chefs will also be given a unique opportunity to show off their flair in the kitchen in a live cooking demonstration.

The winning entrant will demonstrate their award-winning dishes at the ScottishPower Taste Theatre at Taste of Edinburgh 2010, taking place from the 28th-30th May in Inverleith Park.

Four expert judges - Kevin MacGillivray, President of The Federation of Chefs Scotland, Susan Deacon, advisor to ScottishPower, Stephen Jardine from STV's The Hour Show and Marie-Claire James, Taste of Edinburgh's festival director - will agree on six finalists who will then go on to compete in a heated cook-off on May 13.

Taste of Edinburgh festival director, Juliet Simpson said: "Scotland's culinary credentials are stronger than ever and our natural larder is enviable. To ensure we continue to build our reputation, we need to nurture young and new talent.

"Often the hardest step is getting experience in a reputable kitchen, so the prize of a six-month paid placement at Malmaison/Hotel du Vin is invaluable to chefs looking to break into the industry. We're hoping the competition will allow us to find a true star of the future."

Scottish Power's Susan Deacon said: "ScottishPower has a proud tradition of encouraging the development of younger generations in the energy sector, and we are delighted to be able to support this fantastic opportunity for Scotland's aspiring chefs. I am sure that the experience will benefit all of the chefs who take part."

The winner will also be given a chance to see their recipes published on the Taste of Edinburgh website and participate in a live cooking demonstration at this year's Taste of Edinburgh festival.

To enter, culinary hopefuls should visit www.tasteofedinburgh.co.uk/competition, before the closing date of April 29.

The food festival will enjoy its fourth year after a successful launch in 2007. Since then it has attracted more than 20,000 visitors annually.

Taste of Edinburgh sponsored by ScottishPower has developed a recipe for success attracting a host of household names, combined with a collection of the city's most appealing restaurants.

Taste of Edinburgh sponsored by ScottishPower is returning to the city's picturesque Inverleith Park for 2010 and organisers are gathering the city's top food and drink lovers to showcase their produce, talent and passion on May 28, 29 and 30.

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