Forces squads drill for Hotelympia

With a little more than eight weeks to go before Hotelympia 2000 opens its doors, on 7 February at London's Earls Court, the armed services are gearing up to do battle.

Teams of military chefs from the Royal Marines, the Army and the Royal Air Force will be competing in the Field 2000 competition for the second time next year. Two teams per day will prepare, cook and serve three-course gourmet meals for 150 covers using only basic, portable field kitchen equipment.

Lunch, to be served daily on the Gallery Level of Earls Court One from 10.30am, will cost £15. The competition is sponsored by PKL Group, 3663, Churchill Dining Out and Amefa.

As with civilian cookery competitions, teams will be assessed on cooking skills, flair, innovation, creativity and all elements of safe practice. Awards will be made on the final day of Hotelympia.

The Field 2000 competitors are among the 1,500 chefs competing in 105 events in front of an estimated audience of 60,000 during the five-day show.

Among the new titles to be decided in the Salon Culinaire Live Theatre, sponsored by Caterplan, are the Hospital Caterers' Association Team of the Year final, the Association of London Clubs Chef of the Year competition and Healthy Catering in the Workplace. Also new for next year is the Garde d'Or Live Theatre, a separate theatre sponsored by Van den Bergh Foodservice that will host the National Chef of the Year semi-finals and finals.

For further information, visit the Hotelympia Web site at www.hotelympia.com or call the ticket hotline on 01203 426520.