THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN TO FIND

THE KNORR NATIONAL CHEF OF THE YEAR 2008

The search for the KNORR National Chef of the Year 2008 is officially underway with October 2007 serving up some fantastic entries. Do you have what it takes to join the ranks of Eyck Zimmer, Steve Love, Mark Sargeant and Gordon Ramsay as the winner of this coveted title and win the first prize of £10,000? If so, be sure to register and submit your entry no later than closing date 31st December 2007.

The biennial competition, culminating in a live final held at the Restaurant Show, is now in its 19th year. Run by the Craft Guild of Chefs in partnership with KNORR, the competition is the most respected culinary challenge in the industry today. Open to all chefs over the age of 21 working within any sector of the UK hospitality industry, the KNORR National Chef of the Year competition acknowledges and rewards the crème de la crème of today’s chef talent.

David Mulcahy, Vice President The Craft Guild of Chefs, comments: “This culinary competition remains the premier event for chefs throughout the industry. Once again, the 2008 competition we will be looking for the nation’s most talented chef - who can demonstrate exceptional technical skill and create food with flavour, texture, balance and style that is second-to-none. The crowned winner will also be commercial, practical, efficient and well organised.

He continued: “The competition showcases the exemplary talent our industry has to offer, it is with this in mind, that the KNORR National Chef of the Year is the most esteemed event in the Craft Guild of Chefs’ calendar.”

Simon Marshall, Managing Director of Unilever Foodsolutions, the makers of chefs’ masterbrand KNORR, adds: “KNORR is delighted to announce its continued support for The Craft Guild of Chefs’ National Chef of the Year competition. This prestigious event epitomises culinary excellence and the expertise and dedication that chefs have for their profession. It provides an opportunity for chefs from every sector to pitch their skills against their peers and we at KNORR are looking forward to a fantastic response to the 2008 competition.”

Criteria and Competition Format

To enter the 2008 challenge, contestants must devise a three-course lunch menu for four people; following the format of one hot and one cold canapé, a main course created from a regional breed of pork followed by their take on a traditional British pudding. The initial paper judging stage will see the top 40 entries put through to five semi-final cook offs where they will create their menus in front of a live audience and panel of respected judges. The 2008 semi-finals will be taking place at:

Semi-final 1, 12th March 2008
Hotel & Catering Show, 11th-12th March 2008, Bournemouth International Centre

Semi-finals 2, 3 & 4, 8th & 9th April 2008
Food & Drink Expo, 6th-9th April 2008, NEC Birmingham

Semi-final 5, 22nd May 2008
North East Culinary Trade Association Annual Event (NECTA)
21st-22nd May 2008, Marriott Hotel, Gosforth Park, Newcastle

The winner of each semi-final heat, together with the highest scoring five runners-up, will compete against each other in the intense and exciting Grand Final at The Restaurant Show on 7th October 2008, where their creativity, skill and nerve will be tested by the renowned basket of mystery ingredients. The competition climaxes that very evening when the overall winner will be crowned KNORR National Chef of the Year 2008 at a gala Awards event and presented with their £10,000 prize money cheque.

Entry Details

The Craft Guild of Chefs and KNORR urge all chefs, both men and women, to take up the challenge and enter this highly-regarded competition to discover whether they’ve got what it takes to be a winner!

Entry couldn’t be easier – simply complete the application form in the entry brochure and submit with your menu and a colour passport photo of yourself in chef whites. Entry brochures can be requested via the KNORR National Chef of the Year 2008 hotline on 01293 648 254, by text 07781 480 170 or by visiting www.unileverfoodsolutions.co.uk.

The closing date for entries is Monday 31st December 2007.

For all media enquiries please contact:

Claire Felstead
William Murray PR
T: 020 8256 1360
F: 020 8681 3116
E: claire@williammurraypr.co.uk