The search begins to find National Chef of Wales 2012

This biannual contest is sponsored jointly by the Welsh Assembly Government and Hybu Cig Cymru / Meat Promotion Wales. The contest winner will receive £2,000, a trophy and the coveted title, while the runner up will go home with £1,000. There will be three regional qualifying heats – Cardiff and Vale College on Tuesday, November 22; Coleg Powys, Newtown on November 23 and Deeside College, Connah's Quay on November 24. A panel of judges will select the best four chefs from the heats to compete in the final at the Welsh International Culinary Championships at Coleg Llandrillo Cymru on February 14. Application forms are now available from the WCA or they can be downloaded from the association's website at www.welshculinaryassociation.com. Chefs have until noon on November 7 to return the forms with a £30 entry fee, which includes a year's WCA membership. Entry is open to chefs of all ages who must work or study in Wales. They are challenged to devise their own creative menu for a three-course dinner for four, including some Wales the True Taste winning products. From the entry forms, the judges will select five chefs for each of the qualifying heats. The selected chefs will then have three hours to prepare and cook their menu. Peter Jackson, WCA president, said: "This competition is the pinnacle for all chefs working or studying in Wales," said Peter Jackson, WCA president. "It provides a wonderful platform for chefs to demonstrate their culinary skills at an event designed to showcase the very best that the country has to offer. "Judging by the number of early enquiries that we have received, it looks like being a keenly contested competition. We hope to build on the success of this year's Junior Chef of Wales competition, which attracted record entries." Entry forms must be returned to Mr Jackson at The Bungalow, Maes-y-Neuadd, Talsarnau, near Harlech LL47 6YA or e-mail: ptrjck@aol.com.