Kent Young Chef Award: Entries now open, final to be held at K College in Tonbridge

Secondary school students from Tonbridge and across Kent have until the beginning of November (Friday 2 November at midnight) to enter Kent Young Chef Award 2012.

It is open to all secondary students in Kent in Year Groups 7-11. 

Participants need to write an original main course recipe (fish, meat or vegetarian) which feature ingredients that are in season in the autumn and are locally grown/reared in Kent.

The recipe should serve two people and entrants should be able to cook and serve the dish within two hours. 

Go to www.producedinkent.co.uk to download your entry form and to see full entry details.

The dynamic and exciting Live Final will take place on Friday 23 November 2012, when the authors behind the eight best paper entries will head to the professional kitchens and restaurant at K College, to compete for the Junior and Senior titles in the Live Cook Off in front of a panel of judges, including celebrity chef Richard Phillips. 

All eight finalists will walk away with a fantastic selection of prizes, as well as a memorable one day cookery experience and lunch in one of Richard Phillips' restaurants in Kent – The Hengist, Thackeray's or The Windmill Inn.

Competition closing date is FRIDAY 2 NOVEMBER. Submit your entries to youngchef@wacpr.com. Follow the competition on Twitter @ProducedinKent #KYC and facebook.com/producedinkent 

Opies, a family business based in Sittingbourne, has been manufacturing its extensive range of quality pickles, preserves and condiments in Britain since 1880, and is sponsoring the prestigious and longest-running young people's cooking competition in the county – the Kent Young Chef Award. 

The new sponsorship support of Opies, alongside the long-term sponsor kff, has been warmly welcomed by competition organisers Produced in Kent. 

Stephanie Durling said: "We feel proud and delighted to have the sponsorship support of such a highly respected Kent-based food manufacturer that shares many of the same values as the competition – which is all about creating great tasting food using fresh local and seasonal ingredients. 

"Opies sponsorship will continue to raise the profile of a competition that has already captured the imagination and support of secondary school pupils across the county."   

William Opie, managing director of Opies, said: "We are delighted to be involved in the sponsorship of the Kent Young Chef Award 2012. 

"Encouraging today's young chefs to have fun and be creative for the competition helps promote delicious and exciting recipes using local ingredients from our county. As a local Kent-based company producing fine foods since 1880, we are proud to be associated with this competition."