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Dorset's Young Seafood MasterChef Search

Wednesday 16 June 2010

 

News Release 24th May 2010

 

 

THE SEARCH FOR DORSET’S YOUNG SEAFOOD MASTERCHEF IS NOW ON

 

The search is on once again for Dorset’s Young Seafood MasterChef as part of the Dorset Seafood Festival 2010. The competition is open to all permanent residents of Dorset with the final taking place at the Dorset Seafood Festival on 10th and 11th July. It is a 4-stage competition where entrants aged between 16 and 25 and will be judged by celebrity chef Mark Hix and Mat Follas, 2009 MasterChef winner.

 

Applicants must submit a main course dish that would be suitable to serve in a busy working kitchen. The dish should feature sustainable Dorset seafood and other locally sourced ingredients. The dish must take no longer than 20 minutes to prepare and serve.

Eight successful entrants will be notified by Wednesday 23rd June 2010 and will be invited to a 'cook off' at Weymouth College on Wednesday 30th June. Here entrants will cook their submitted dish, supplying ingredients and any specialist cookware that they may need.

The semi-final and final will be held on 10th and 11th July and contestants will be invited to take to the celebrity chef main stage to cook in front of a public audience. The two finalists will be interviewed by Mark Hix or Mat Follas who together will decide who will be named 2010 Dorset's Young Seafood MasterChef. The winner will receive a day's work experience in Hix Oyster & Fish House Restaurant in Lyme Regis and an engraved shield to be retained by the winner for one year.

 

Winner of last year’s competition, Charlie Bronson said: ‘I wanted to enter the competition to prove to myself that I was improving at my skill. When I was being judged by top chefs I was nervous but it was a good feeling when they were saying how good I was. It was a real confidence booster when I found out I won and it has made me want to take part in more competitions in the future. I am looking forward to doing this competition again.’

Entry forms can be downloaded from the Dorset Seafood Festival website http://www.dorsetseafood.co.uk/participate/masterchef/ and must be sent by email to lisa@tandem-marketing.co.uk or post to Lisa Worthington, Tandem Marketing, Seven Springs Studios, Unit 12, Herringston Barn, Dorchester, Dorset. DT2 9PU by 15th June 2010. 

For more information visit http://www.dorsetseafood.co.uk/participate/masterchef/ or call Lisa Worthington on 01305 756584.

Ends

 

Editor’s Notes

  1. Press release prepared by Tandem Marketing, for more information contact Lisa Worthington, 01305 756584 or  07889 403185
  2. Dorset Seafood Festival attracted 40,000 visitors in 2009 and the 2010 festival plans to be even bigger and better. 
  3. Dorset Seafood Festival is part of the Spirit of the Sea which is a nine day festival of independently organised and funded marine events that sit under the title name 'Spirit Of The Sea'. The festival is being coordinated by a team of representatives from local business, local government, clubs and organisations who are looking to raise the profile of Weymouth & Portland's maritime-related events under this title name. The overall objective is to build the 'Spirit of the Sea' brand over the next four years and beyond so that it contributes to a lasting legacy for the Borough from its role as sailing venue for the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games.  http://www.spiritofthesea.org.uk/
  4. Pommery Champagne is the title sponsor of this year’s event with other supporting sponsors including -  Lloyds TSB Commercial, Wines of Chile, Wessex Water, Ringwood Brewery, The Co-Operative Partnership, South West Trains
  5. Over 60 stalls will serve freshly cooked seafood. Dishes will be prepared with freshly caught fish and shellfish.
  6. The Pommery Cross Harbour Oyster Challenge will launch the Festival where participants will race across the harbour, eat an oyster and celebrate with a cool glass of Pommery champagne. ‘Passionate About Fish’ will be returning to educate visitors on local indigenous species, giving children the chance to get up close and personal to some fabulous specimens.
  7. There will be live music in Hope Square for the whole 2 days
  8. Dorset Seafood Festival website – www.dorsetseafood.co.uk
  9. Members of the public requiring further information about the Festival should contact Weymouth Tourist Information Centre on  01305 785747