NZ-UK Link Foundation Culinary Challenge (UK)
21 October 2008
The NZ-UK Link Foundation Culinary Challenge is the UK side of the Foundation's Culinary Exchange Awards and offers the working opportunity of a lifetime for a young British chef to travel and work in New Zealand for four weeks. The competition is administered by the British Craft Guild of Chefs.
Pictured right is Selin Kiazim, the latest and fifth young British chef to win the award.
Entrants face strict criteria for entry into the Culinary Challenge. Applicants must be aged between 18 and 23 as of 1st December 2008, in training or employment and holding a British passport.
In the 2008 competition, eight successful finalists will compete in the final cook-off at Westminster Kingsway College in London on Monday 10 November 2008. All finalists and their mentors will be invited to a reception at the Penthouse Suite of New Zealand House in the West End of London, catered by Peter Gordon, on the following evening 11 November 2008, where the winner will be announced. Other guests on the evening will include senior industry figures and dignitaries.
The winner receives a five week working holiday and two runners up will be offered the opportunity to work with the acclaimed Peter Gordon at the Providores Restaurant in London.
Find out more about the rules and entry criteria for the 2008 competition here and view the Culinary Challenge video (link at the bottom of the page) that has been donated by media production company Breeze and Freeze to whet your competition appetite.
"This is perhaps the best chance that you will have to experience New Zealand's unique cuisine," the inspiration behind this award, Peter Gordon, Chef Proprieter of Providores Restaurant in London urges young contenders thinking of entering the award. "On top of that, New Zealand is truly the most beautiful country, with some of the friendliest people. You'd be mad not to give this a go."
Chris Hagan of Baslow Hall Restaurant in Derbyshire, was the fourth NZ-UK Link Foundation Culinary Challenge winner (2006). Previous British winners include Sophie Wright of Westminster Kingsway College in London (2005), Mark Dixon of the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth (2004) and Eddie Raines of the Castle Hotel in Hereford (2003).
"New Zealand was the trip of a lifetime. I want to thank you and everyone who helped organise it once again. I will never forget it and want to go back. Good luck to the next person. They are soooooo lucky." Sophie Wright, 2005 NZ-UK Link Foundation Culinary Challenge Winner.
"Fabulous is all I can say," said Mark Dixon, 2004 winner, after his return from New Zealand.
Files
- Culinary Challenge UK
- Download: Culinary_Challenge2.wmv (8.9 MB)
- Culinary Challenge UK 2008 Competition Rules
- Download: Competiton_Rules_Information_2008.pdf (94.34 KB)