BA lends a helping hand to Indian Chef of the Year competition

The world's greatest curry chefs will pit their skills against each other at the 13th annual International Indian Chef of the Year Competition 2003/2004.

British Airways is supporting the contest by arranging for a heat to take place in Delhi.

It will fly the winner of the Delhi cook-off to Edinburgh for the final.

Last year Victor Shyam Longani, a chef from the five-star Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, won the Delhi heat and then went on to win the competition.

He impressed the judges with a menu that included spicy prawns with crab and lamb shanks.

The deadline for entries to next year's contest is 9 January.

The finalists will be announced at a reception, hosted by MP Alex Salmond, at the Jubilee Room in the House of Commons, at 1pm on Thursday 15 January.

The final will then take place at Queen Margaret University College in Edinburgh on Friday 13 February.

To enter the competition, contact Tommy Miah on 0131-538 7900.