Do you consider yourself something of a Nigella in the kitchen? Reckon you could give Jamie a run for his money?

If so, then make sure you take part in the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards, which has this year launched the search for county’s finest chefs!

The competition, devised by Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited (NEL), is aimed at celebrating all that is great about the county’s produce and drink, to recognise excellence within its dining venues and to reward those who work so hard within the culinary sector. Thanks to new sponsor Booker, there are two brand new categories for the 2011/12 Awards – the ‘Booker Chef of the Year’ and ‘Young Chef of the Year’.

Area Manager, Alistair Rogers, explained why the company wanted to get involved in this way. “Booker is delighted to be supporting those chefs who work so tirelessly to put the region on the culinary map. As a local supplier to many chefs throughout Northamptonshire, we understand how important it is to reward those individuals who continue to create outstanding food”.

One of those taking up the challenge is Teresa McCarthy who runs ‘The Swan and Helmet’ in Northampton’s Grove Road. “I used to work as a chef on the QEII and in Michelin-starred restaurants in London so I reckon I stand a decent chance! It’s been a while since I’ve entered any competitions, but I’m really proud of the food we serve at the pub and since I want to put it on the local culinary map, this seems like the ideal way to do so!”

The ‘Booker Chef of the Year’ is open to chefs aged 18 or over while the ‘Young Chef of the Year’ is for 16 to 21 year olds. Entrants, either amateur or professional, need to submit a three-course menu plan and from those, a shortlist of finalists will be chosen by an esteemed panel of judges to go through to the final cook-off later in the summer which will decide the winners.

Said Rachel Mallows of The Mallows Company which co-ordinates the Awards “We’re really grateful to Booker for lending their support as this has enabled us to introduce these new categories and help us publically applaud some of the many hundreds of creative and skilled chefs we have here in the county. So whatever your age and whether you’re a working chef with a menu to be proud of or in your element at the stove at home, we look forward to receiving your entry!”

Meanwhile Kate Dent, Head of Tourism at NEL, commented on the wider impact of the new categories. “It’s great to have these two additional awards, not least because greater value is being placed on local food and drink thanks to our hardworking professional chefs. It’s therefore right that they should be publically recognised in this w