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Don't miss the chance to gain the recognition you deserve in the PubChef Food Excellence Awards 2008. Read on for details The search is now on to...

Don't miss the chance to gain the recognition you deserve in the PubChef Food Excellence Awards 2008. Read on for details

The search is now on to find the best pub chefs in the business in the PubChef Food Excellence Awards 2008.

If you want to raise your profile in the industry, get the recognition you deserve for your skills and hard work and generate fantastic PR for your pub, now's the time to make sure you're part of this year's

prestigious competition.

The chefs' competition, now in its fourth year, is organised by PubChef, the Morning Advertiser's food magazine.

The contest involves an eight-month search for the UK's top pub chefs through paper judging and cook-off finals, climaxing in an exciting awards night when the winners are announced.

This year there are 10 categories for pub chefs to enter, giving them the chance to shine in areas of their menus they feel particularly passionate about. Categories include seafood, game, meat, bar dishes, desserts and young pub chef.

Cook-offs take place later this year at the Meat & Livestock Commission HQ in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

The first round kicks off on Monday, 29 October, and the second on 12 November.

Last year's awards were hugely successful, with pub chefs from across the UK reaching the cook-off finals. From the cook-offs, 10 category winners are selected and their names announced at a prestigious awards night at the Dorchester in Park Lane, London.

The highly-coveted title of Pub Chef of the Year 2008 will be awarded to the overall winner. The Pub Chef of the Year will receive the honour of having a menu devised by themselves served to the awards-night guests at the Dorchester.

PubChef editor Jo Bruce says: "The personal and business benefits of taking part in the awards are fantastic. The awards are the perfect opportunity for pub chefs to gain the recognition they deserve and to really raise their profile."

To enter, chefs submit a recipe for a

dish appropriate to their category, such as seafood, and provide background information on their pub's food business, including a current menu. Full details are available in the entry pack.

Closing date for entries is 7 September.

Rising stars

Last year's category winners and finalists share their success stories

Mark Levy, Pub Chef of the Year 2007, head chef, the Russell, Ellesborough, Buckinghamshire

"This award has given me a fantastic platform for my career. With new contacts, suppliers and custom, the Russell has returned its best first-quarter figures so far. There's no such thing as a quiet week any more - it's really buzzing.

"The awards ceremony was a fantastic night out - it doesn't get much better than the Dorchester. I can't think of a greater incentive for budding pub chefs of the future."

James Rogers, the Grundisburgh Dog, Grundisburgh, Suffolk

"We've had the most amazing PR kick-back from the PubChef awards - everything from newspapers to glossy magazines and radio. It's fantastic stuff and has really boosted trade."

Jason Howlett, joint head chef, Ring O' Bells, Thornton, near Bradford, West Yorkshire

"The greatest thing about the awards is the publicity. The pub has appeared in local and regional press and because this is a national award, the coverage is great. The great thing about the actual competition is that you get to do something different - trying out new recipes and ideas and meeting lots of other chefs."

Marion Cummins, the Linnet, Great Hinton, Wiltshire

"I put my winning certificates up in the bar and added 'award-winning' to the menu description of my winning dessert. The dish sold 10-fold after that."

Bill Leadbeater, the Mason's Arms, Swerford, Oxon

"Being a finalist increased trade: people want to visit places with glowing reputations, and these awards took us to that level. It helps with adverts and publicity - local press and glossies have produced free editorials and articles, and the Four Shires magazine asked me to write a monthly column, which improves business and raises my profile as a chef. And it's great to attend the awards where we can all meet like-minded professionals, and exchange thoughts and ideas."

Awards Categories

Monday 29 October

am Young Chef; pm Global Cuisine

Tuesday 30 October

am Game; pm Bar Dishes

Wednesday 31 October

am Seafood; pm Pub Classics

Monday 12 November

Team

Tuesday 13 November

am Poultry; pm Desserts

Wednesday 14 November