Finalists gear up for Kent Young Chef Award

Competitors will have two hours to transform their written recipes into a main course dish, featuring local and seasonal produce. The eight youngsters will cook in front of a live audience. The judging panel will include star judge/award-winning restaurateur Richard Phillips, of BBC TV's Ready, Steady, Cook fame, who himself trained at Thanet College and the BAFTA-winning presenter of Art Attack, Neil Buchanan, who will also be hosting the award. Phillips said: "The standard at the top of the competition was extremely high and it was a close call to pick out just eight recipes – with so much creativity and imagination going on. It was great to see so many of the entrants using local and seasonal produce with a significant number even growing their own produce. "There were plenty of 'tried and tested' British classics appearing, but with an original twist. Many of the entrants showed a real understanding of using seasonal produce and I can't wait to see the finalists cook their ideas into a reality at the live cook off!" Competing in the junior competition will be Lana Foyle of Ashford School, Georgina Bishop, also from Ashford School, Alice Browning of St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School and Ellie Garety-Jones of Swadelands School, Lenham. And in the senior contest will be Adam Porter of Chaucer Technology School, Megan Cooper of Cator Park School, James Dye of Swan Valley Community School and Andrew Moores of Towers School, Kennington.