Chefs From Around The World Battle For The Dragon

Talented chefs are jetting in from all around the world to take part in the premier culinary competition in Wales. The Welsh National Culinary Team will put their skills to the test against Canada and Cyprus in the second Battle for the Dragon contest at the Welsh International Culinary Championships at Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, Rhos-on-Sea, Colwyn Bay from February 20-22.

Canada currently lead the world rankings while Wales are ninth and Cyprus 15th. The three countries will do battle in a Restaurant of Nations hot kitchen competition, each being allocated three hours to produce a mouthwatering three-course meal for 90 people under the supervision of a panel of international judges.

Run over three days, this year's Battle for the Dragon contest will see Wales lead the way on Tuesday, February 20 followed by Cyprus on Wednesday and Canada on Thursday. The winning team will receive a specially commissioned Dragon Trophy at a gala dinner to be hosted by The Imperial Hotel, Llandudno on Thursday, February 22.

The contest, which has been endorsed by the World Association of Chefs' Societies (WACS), was introduced for the first time this year and won by Germany, who held off a strong challenge from Wales and France.

The Welsh International Culinary Championships, which are organised by the Welsh Culinary Association (WCA), are sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government to promote the food and drink industry brand 'True Taste' and Coleg Llandrillo Cymru. The championships are open to the public free of charge from 9am to 4pm each day.

Designed to celebrate the nation's culinary skills and food, the three-day Welsh International Culinary Championships are packed with exciting competitions, including the National Junior Chef of Wales Final on February 20.

Every day, there will also be live hot and cold food competitions for learner, junior and senior chefs and waiting staff, static exhibition classes and junior and open grand prix, which involve teams of three cooking a three-course meal for four from the mystery contents of a black box.

The main championship classes and National Junior Chef of Wales competition are being held in the ground floor college kitchens and cafeteria area, while the Battle for the Dragon contest will be staged in the kitchens on the first floor.

WCA chairman Peter Jackson said he looked forward to welcoming the teams from Canada and Cyprus to Wales and predicted a close contest. "The Battle for the Dragon contest and the Welsh International Culinary Championships are helping to raise the profile of Wales, its food and culinary skills," he added.

The Welsh National Culinary Team goes into battle after claiming silver and bronze medals at the Culinary World Cup competition in Luxembourg last November. The team selected shows a nice blend of youth and experience, with Colin Gray, Capital Cuisine, Cardiff, as coach and Lee Jeynes co-owner of The Whitehouse Hotel, Bowness on Windermere, as captain.

The other team members are: vice captain Nick Davies, Cambrian Training Company, Welshpool, Sajeela Siriwardena, Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, Ben Morse, Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel and Spa, Usk and Max Osborne, Carpe Diem, Bristol.

Local people are being given a chance to sample the chefs' culinary delights, as tickets are on sale for lunch over the three days at Coleg Llandrillo Cymru. Lunch costs £27.50 per person with a reduction to £25 when booking for all three lunches with Jane Cater, events manager at the college, e-mail: j.cater@llandrillo.ac.uk.

For more information about the Battle for the Dragon contest and the Welsh International Culinary Championships visit the Welsh Culinary Association's website at welshculinaryassociation.com.

The Welsh team is sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government, C&C Catering Equipment Ltd, Brakes, Unilever Foodsolutions UK, Catering Engineers (N.W.) Ltd, Hybu Cig Cymru/ Meat Promotion Wales, Gourmet Classic Ltd, Villeroy and Boch, Friedr. Dick, Germany and Snowdonia Cheese Company.