TV chef Richard Phillips launching the 2009 Kent Young Chef Award at Chapel Down Vineyard, near Tenterden

Do you have what it takes to be Kent Young Chef 2009? Produced in Kent, champions of our food and drink heroes, is launching a brand new recipe and cookery competition for the county’s secondary school students.

The Kent Young Chef Award looks set to spark a cookery revolution across the county as teenagers have the chance to prove they can devise an original recipe that is made using seasonal autumnal ingredients that are grown locally in Kent.

The competition and award is sponsored by leading local foodservice supplier kff and has the full media support of the KM Group.

The search for Kent’s Young Chef 2009 will culminate with an exciting live final in front of BBC Ready Steady Cook chef and star judge Richard Phillips at the prestigious catering school – Thanet College – on Friday, November 27.

The final will be hosted by TV’s award-winning Art Attack presenter Neil Buchanan.

The competition is open to all secondary school students in year groups 7 to 11, who either live in Kent or go to school in Kent. Applicants are challenged to devise and write an original main dish recipe, with the main ingredients grown or reared in Kent and widely available this autumn.

HOW TO ENTER

STEP ONE

You’ll need to write your own original recipe to serve two people. Ingredients need to be local and seasonal – check What’s in Season this Autumn on www.producedinkent.co.uk. The recipe must be a main course dish and can be meat, fish or vegetarian.

STEP TWO

Simply visit www.producedinkent.co.uk to view the rules of entry and to enter.

STEP THREE

The eight best entries – four from the junior competition (YG 7-8) and four from the senior competition (YG 9-11) will be invited to take part in November’s live cook off at Thanet College.

Closing date for written recipe entries is FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 and entrants can go to www.producedinkent.co.uk to enter