Young National Chef of the Year back for second year

The Young National Chef of the Year competition is back for its second year to celebrate the best new chefs in the business.

Proven winners from other events such as the Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate Award are invited to take part in the junior version of the National Chef of the Year competition.

Chefs across the catering industry between the ages of 18 and 23 as of 1 April 2011 are eligible to enter. Eight finalists will be chosen following performances at other events throughout the year.

"We are looking towards the rising talent in the industry and want to give the stars of the future the chance to compete on a national stage," said David Mulcahy, vice president of the Craft Guild of Chefs and organiser of the National Chef of the Year competitions.

"We will be assessing industry competitions very closely to determine who will compete by invitation of the The Craft Guild of Chefs at this year's grand final of Young National Chef of the Year 2011."

Mark Stinchcombe of the Lucknam Park Hotel near Bath won the 2010 accolade. "It was great to gain the experience of working in a different environment and in front of a live audience," he said. "It gave me more understanding of the industry and I certainly came away with many more culinary ideas."

The Young National Chef of the Year competition will take place at Earls Court 2, London, on Tuesday 11 October 2011 during the Restaurant Show, organised by the Publican's Morning Advertiser's sister title Restaurant magazine.