YOUNGSTERS hoping to follow in the footsteps of Masterchef winner Saliha can compete for the chance to cook at the Grove - or even travel to Italy.
The Watford Observer is sponsoring Watford Rotary Club's Young Chef Competition, in which young people aged between 11 and 17 compete to create the best main course and dessert costing no more than £10.
The winner will get a chance to spend a day in the kitchen and restaurants at The Grove in Chandlers Cross under the supervision of Colette's Restaurant head chef Russell Bateman and his staff, as well as a voucher for a meal for four.
They will also go on to compete for a place in the national final, with the top prize a week in Tuscany courtesy of Italian food brand Filippo Berio.
The competition will be held at West Herts College Restaurant on Saturday, November 18, and will be judged by Russell Bateman, head chef at Colette’s Restaurant at The Grove, and Andy Wakeford, Graham Rusling and Pedro Carmichael, chef lecturers at the Food Academy, West Herts College.
The Young Chef Competition is designed to offer students in local secondary schools, aged between 11 and 17 year, an opportunity to demonstrate their cooking skills in competition with others.
Contestants are required to compose a two-course healthy menu and prepare the meal for two persons (main course and dessert) costing no more than £10.
Participation in the Watford heat is open to anyone aged between 11 and 17 who is in full-time education and lives in the Watford and Three Rivers council areas. Entrants must not be in full or part time employment in the catering industry although any student who has taken on temporary holiday jobs in a restaurant are not barred.
The runner-up prize is a voucher for a meal for four people for dinner in the training restaurant at West Herts College.
The third prize is a WH Smith voucher for £40.
The national final takes place on April 28, 2018.
The closing date for entries is October 30.
For further details and entry form visit go to the Watford Rotary Website – www.watfordrotary.org or email the Watford Rotary Youth Services chairman Rabi Martins at Rabi@rabimartins.org.uk
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