Is this your chance to be the next Gordon Ramsay?

THE hunt is on for Derbyshire's very own master chef in a competition to mark the 275th anniversary of a city department store.

Bennetts, in Iron Gate, is giving budding Gordon Ramsays the chance to land an apprenticeship with a top restaurant and cash to fund training.

The store has teamed up with county's annual Food and Drink Awards to run Derbyshire Master Chef, which will see entrants cook for a panel of judges.

Simon Ingham, managing director at Bennetts, said the competition was a great way to promote local talent and encourage aspiring chefs.

He said: "The competition is designed to draw talent and innovation out of chefs, and not to put them under pressure. I am sure any chef will enjoy the opportunity to do something new and win a prize."

Budding chefs from across the county have until August 5 to enter the competition.

Heats will then be held in South Derbyshire, North Derbyshire and Derby, where aspiring chefs will have to cook a dish of their choice for the panel of judges.

The numbers will then be whittled down for the semi finals and final cook-off.

The winner will land an apprenticeship with a Derby restaurant. A sponsorship grant of up to £1,000 is also up for grabs thanks to the Derbyshire Community Foundation for Catering Training.

And the prizes will be presented by celebrity chef Brian Turner, who has been involved in the Food and Drink Awards for the last few years.

He said: "I am looking forward to seeing some new competitors from what has become an exciting food and drink event."

Winners will be announced at a ceremony in October when the Derbyshire Food Hero will also be named. This will be either be a small-scale food producer, a food retailer or a restaurateur who understands the value of fantastic local food. The closing date for entries for this part of the competition is September 1.

Derbyshire County Council's cabinet member for regeneration, Simon Spencer, said: "The Master Chef award has been created to promote emerging talent in the food industry.

"We've got many talented young chefs in Derbyshire and I'd urge them all to think about taking part in this competition."

People wanting to enter Derbyshire Master Chef must be aged 16 or over and want to get involved with the catering industry, already be employed in the industry, enrolled on a catering training course or have skills they would like to showcase.

The competition is closed to anyone who already has an established career in the catering industry or their own catering business.

Entrants will be judged on innovation, use of Derbyshire products, style, presentation, taste and timings.

For an application form, contact Stephanie Walsh on 01629 580000 ext 7464 or e-mail Stephanie.walsh@ derbyshire. gov.uk, or visit the website www.derbyshirefoodfestival.co.uk/awards.htm.