ScottishPower Apprentice Chef Challenge

We’re on the hunt for the country’s newest and hottest young chef! ScottishPower in association with Taste of Edinburgh is offering talented young chefs the chance to win a paid six-month apprenticeship in one of the country’s top restaurants, Malmaison/Hotel du Vin (who are participating at this year’s event) and a chance to cook on-stage at Taste with top chefs.

Who can enter:The competition is open to trainee chefs - whether in full-time employment in a kitchen or further education in the culinary field.

The competition:To enter, burgeoning young talents must create a menu (on paper) consisting of a main course and a dessert, accompanied by recipes and photos of their dishes.

Six finalistswill then go head to head in a Cook Off at the Braehead Cook School on May 13^th in front of a judging panel consisting of Susan Deacon, advisor to ScottishPower, Kevin MacGillivray, President of The Federation of Chefs Scotland, Stephen Jardine from STV’s The Hour Show and Marie-Clare James, Taste of Edinburgh’s festival director.

What do you win:The winning Young Chef Apprentice will win a paid six-month apprenticeship with Malmaison/Hotel du Vin and perform in the ScottishPower Taste Theatre at Taste of Edinburgh 2010 where they will participate in a live demonstration. Two runners up will each be paired with a Taste chef and have the opportunity to cook with them on-stage at Taste.

How to enter:

1. Download and complete an application form

2. Send your application along with a menu (on paper) featuring a main course dish and dessert to Lauren Gonsal, Stripe PR & Communications, 116 Dundas Street, Edinburgh, EH6 4BJ or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

All applications must be accompanied by recipes, method and photographs, as the competition will be subject to a process of paper judging before the final 6 competitors are invited to compete in the cook-off.

3. Participants have the option of complementing their entry by uploading a 30 second video of themselves onto Taste of Edinburgh’s YouTube channel.

4. If you are one of the lucky six finalists, you will be notified by email by 6 May 2010

            Here's the how to post your video:

1. Create a 30 second video about yourself to complement your application

2. Post the video on YouTube with the title Taste of Edinburgh 2010 Apprentice Chef Challenge -

3. Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)with a link to your YouTube video

Videos must cover the following points:

- Your name age and place of work/study

- Why did you decide to train as a chef?

- What is your culinary philosophy?

- How are you going to make your mark on Scotland’s culinary scene?