TV chef to judge kids' cookery comp

Kent-based TV chef Richard Phillips is to judge the finalists of the Cook It! annual children’s competition organised by the Guild of Food Writers and sponsored by Gold Top milk.

Entries are open until 28th April for youngsters who were aged 10 to 14 on 31st August 2010 to submit their own recipes for a two-course meal for 2 – 4 people and take no longer than an hour and a half to prepare.

Six finalists will be invited on an all expenses paid trip to London on 9th June 2011, to the kitchens of BBC Good Food Magazine to prepare their meals for a panel of judges, including Richard Phillips. BBC Good Food magazine will also publish a feature about the day.

Dishes do not have to be complicated but should show originality and skill, with marks also being given for recipe writing skills and presentation.

The winner will be invited in to experience working as a real chef in the kitchens of one of Richard Phillps’s four Kent restaurants – Thackeray’s in Tunbridge Wells, Richard Phillips @ Chapel Down near Tenterden, Hengist in Aylesford or The Pearson’s Arms by Richard Phillips in Whitstable – and prepare lunch for themselves and three guests.

Richard Phillips, a champion of Kent food and drink also sponsors the Kent Young Chef of the Year award which is organised by Produced in Kent.

“It’s an honour to inspire young people and to reinforce their enthusiasm and passion,” said Richard adding, “The talent and flair of some of the kids today is amazing, many tackling challenging ingredients with a high degree of technical skill.”

Application forms can be downloaded at: gfw.co.uk

Thackeray’s, 85 London Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1EA - thackerays-restaurant.co.uk

Hengist, 7-9 High Street, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7AX - hengistrestaurant.co.uk

Richard Phillips at Chapel Down, Tenterden Vineyard, Small Hythe, Tenterden, Kent, TN30 7NG - chapeldown.co.uk

The Pearson’s Arms by Richard Phillips, Horsebridge Rd, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1BJ - pearsonsarms.com