The finalists will be competing for the 2012 Cookery School awards in the following categories:
Best cookery school (This will be the overall winner from a shortlist that will include one school from each region on the Looking to Cook map.)
Best city cookery school
Best country/residential cookery school
(These two will be picked from the entrants above.)
Best short cookery course (Three hours or less.)
Best day cookery course or food learning experience (This category is open to all food experience providers.)
Best 'diploma' cookery course (This category is open to providers of certified courses no shorter than one week long.)
Best community oriented cookery school
Best cookery school tutor
Best cookery school website
The judging panel will include Thomasina Miers, winner of MasterChef and founder of Wahaca Restaurants; Nick Wyke, founder of Looking to Cook, Celia Brooks Brown, cookery author and founder of London's Gastrotours, and another leading industry professional to be announced shortly.
Nick Wyke said: “Above all we are looking for evidence of infectious enthusiasm and fun in an open environment where students can learn and indulge their passion for food.
"We are also looking for consistency and creativity in the conception and execution of classes, and a capacity to share knowledge through compelling teaching. The winners will be the sort of school or course that people would like to return to again and again."
Entry deadline is September 12th.