Peak District Search For Young Cooking Talent
19 March 2012
Children and teenagers from across the region are being encouraged to embrace their culinary creativity and enthusiasm by entering a junior cooking competition as part of the Peak District Food and Drink Festival, taking place at the University's Buxton campus on March 31 and April 1.
The Festival's organisers at the University of Derby Buxton, working in collaboration with Tideswell School of Food, are hosting a cookery competition for young people aged 12 - 16 years.
The competition is running throughout March, with the final taking place on Saturday March 31, at this year's Peak District Food and Drink Festival at the University's Devonshire Dome in Buxton.
Youngsters will be asked to submit their own unique recipe, with a focus on using local and seasonal produce. The best six recipes (as chosen by representatives from Tideswell School of Food and Festival organisers) will be selected to continue on to the later stages of the competition.
The six lucky contestants selected will be invited to attend a free cookery master class at Tideswell School of Food where they will learn knife skills and presentation techniques from a professional chef tutor. The contestants will then use their newly learnt skills at the semi-final and final 'cook off' stages of the competition. The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges including highly respected local chefs - Alan Hill, Chef Patron at the Devonshire Arms in Beeley and Simon Bradley, Head Chef at the East Lodge Hotel.
Tracey Ellis, Commerical Manager at the University of Derby Buxton said: "The competition is sure to be highlight of the Peak District Food and Drink Festival weekend. Amongst the food tasting from local producers and cookery demonstrations, this will give local children the opportunity to show what they can create with local produce."
Kim Wathall, Sales and Marketing Manager at Tideswell School of Food said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for local children to embrace their passion for cooking and have the chance to work with professional chef tutors from both Tideswell School of Food and the University of Derby. Hopefully this will help to unleash any budding chefs out there and allow the students to recognise their true potential."
The winner of the competition will not only be crowned as Peak District's Junior Master Chef 2012, but they will also receive a fantastic prize courtesy of Denby.
For more information about the Junior Master Chef competition or to download an application form visit website http://extendingtheseason.co.uk/jmasterchef.html.
The competition is free to enter and all ingredients will be supplied by Tideswell School of Food www.tideswellschooloffood.co.uk
