YOUNG chefs from across the greater Exmoor area are being encouraged to enter an annual contest to find the best of the best.

The third year of the Exmoor Young Chef competition has been launched by Visit Exmoor, which aims to shine a spotlight on the vibrant opportunities within the local hospitality industry.

It hopes to inspire aspiring young chefs aged from 12 to 17 years to pursue their culinary passions.

Professional chefs from the area will be igniting enthusiasm by visiting local schools, engaging with students about the competition, and sharing insights into rewarding careers in hospitality.

They will also provide mentorship to finalists, guiding them in refining their menu creations and honing their culinary skills for the competition.

Up to 10 finalists will be selected to showcase their talents in the finals in the West Somerset College, Minehead, in October, when they will need to captivate judges with a meticulously crafted, locally-sourced, three-course menu.

Competition partners include Bidfood, Rotary Club Minehead, Exmoor National Park, Bridgwater and Taunton College, and Butlin’s, which are joining forces to support and elevate young people and their culinary talent.

Visit Exmoor spearheads a collaborative effort among industry experts across Exmoor, West Somerset, and the coast to establish a centre of excellence for hospitality.

Somerset-based food writer, restaurant critic, and broadcaster William Sitwell is an avid supporter of the initiative.

Butlin’s development chef Werner Hartholt said: “The competition is so important to the area because it connects young people with one of the main industries.

“Exmoor has so much to offer in the form of employment in hospitality and having local chefs coach and mentor the young people showcases not only the quality of the larder we have available on our doorstep but also the level of skill and professionalism.”

Last year’s winner, Katrina Nightingale, from Wiveliscombe, who attends the town’s Kingsmead School, said: “Entering the competition was such an enjoyable experience.

“I got the chance to have a local chef be my mentor which was a great opportunity to improve my skills and learn new techniques relevant to my dishes.

“The day of the competition was very nerve racking as it was my first-ever cooking competition and I did not really know what to expect.

“But everybody was so friendly and supportive, and it was great to see the other contestants’ ideas and completed dishes, as well as the large variety of local produce available in the Exmoor area.

“Winning Exmoor Young Chef 2023 has provided me new options for my future career, as well as giving me the confidence and opportunity to enter the Rotary Young Chef of the Year competition, which until taking part in the Exmoor competition I would never have even contemplated doing.”

Full details of the 2024 Exmoor Young Chef competition as well as application forms can be found here https://www.visit-exmoor.co.uk/business-hub/centre-of-excellence/events.

The deadline for entering the competition is June 30, with applicants being subject to an evaluation by a panel of experts.