Described as a key industry contest that provides young chefs a chance to demonstrate their flair, understanding and skill using seafood from sustainable sources, it consists of four regional heats in total where two teams from each heat will go forward to the grand final at the Grimsby Institute on May 10.
The competition is for full-time and college-based modern apprentice chefs and is supported by some of the UK’s finest chefs who recognise the importance of sustainable seafood. These include: Tom Aikens, Mitch Tonks, Franck Pontais, Valentina Harris and Atul Kochhar.
Colleges can enter as many teams as they wish but each team must consist of two student chefs. Their challenge is to prepare, cook and present a three-course menu for six covers, one of which will be presented to the judging panel for tasting, while four will be served to invited VIP guests and one put on display.
The teams have to use specific seafood species and certain products. These include langoustines/live mussels as well as a product from Koppert Cress’ range of micro cresses in the first course.
In the second course, they must use traditional Grimsby smoked haddock to show their skills in using one species, and in the third course whole cod/whole turbot to demonstrate their filleting skills and techniques. Competitors can use one or both species as long as the costing for the menu is correct.
The top prize includes the coveted trophy, £1000 of Russums vouchers for the winning college, £500 for each team member as well as many other prizes.
The heats:
March 5 –Blackpool and the Fylde College (western)
March 12 – Yorkshire Coast College (northern)
March 19 – Oxford & Cherwell Valley College (southern)
March 23 – City College Norwich (eastern)
May 10 – Grand final at the Grimsby Institute
The competition is sponsored by major companies in the seafood sector and actively supported by Seafish. Sponsors include: Seafish, Carisma, Young’s, Sealord, Russums, Billingsgate Seafood Training School, Koppert Cress, Grimsby Fish Merchants and Humber Royal Hotel
• The deadline for colleges to submit paper entries is February 8 2013 and competition details, rules and entry forms can be downloaded below