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North East chefs go head to head

Eight of the region’s top chefs will battle it out tonight (22 May) in a culinary competition to find North East England’s very own Chef of the Year 2008.

Paul Amer, Amers at Jesmond; John Connell; Lee Campbell; Steve Hodgkiss, Newcastle College; Parachit Somsby-Kirby, Cafe 21 Fenwick; Stuart Pound, Aston Hotel, Darlington; Daniel Mcgregor, Marsden Grotto and Patrice Buee, Prickly Pear will compete at the Marriott Gosforth Park in front of a live audience.

The eight finalists will invent a dish from scratch from a box of mystery ingredients, and have 2.5 hours to prepare, cook and serve a three-course meal for four people.

Previous winners of the competition have included Dave Kennedy, owner of Blackdoor Restaurant and Blackdoor Brasserie and Jamie Walsh, Head Chef at Fisherman’s Lodge.

The competition is the highlight of a two day annual event showcasing the best Chefs and culinary students that the North East has to offer.

Tom Cummings, chairman of North East Culinary Trade Association (NECTA), which organised the event, said: “We have some of the best chefs and restaurants in the country and those people care deeply about North East England, its food and its image. This event gives us the chance to show off their excellent skills and give people a flavour of everything that is good about the region’s food.”

To watch the contest can simply turn up between 9am and 5pm today. Entry costs £1, some of which will go to local good causes. A full programme can be found at www.nectachef.org

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .