Hotelympia will give British beef a boost

Hotelympia 2000 will prove that British beef is firmly back on UK menus by hosting a Scotch beef class run by Blairmore. It is one of several new classes at the show being held at London's Earls Court from 7 to 11 February.

Taking place in the Live Theatre, the class will focus on innovative ways to use rib-eye and rump cuts of the meat. Among other new classes for the show are two masterclasses. One will be using Live Theatre sponsors Caterplan's Knorr products; while the other, from Gate Gourmet, will be featuring main courses using fresh ingredients suitable for service in a first-class flight cabin. A prize of two return tickets to the USA will be on offer at the latter.

Also at the show for the first time is the Watson & Philip Student Chef Team Millennium Challenge, where full-time students will be tested in both culinary and practical skills. And, in a senior freestyle competition, competitors will have 45 minutes to create a main course using the most popular Spanish ingredients available in the UK provided by sponsors Foods From Spain.

Highlighting the quality of cooking in clubs will be the Association of London Club Chefs Competition, happening on the show's first day. Ten finalists have been chosen from 50 of the capital's establishments to prepare a seasonal dish for four covers to a £20 budget.

The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges including Paul Gayler, executive chef of London's Lanesborough hotel, and will receive £1,000 and a trophy.

For further information, visit the Hotelympia Web site at www.hotelympia.com or call the ticket hotline on 024 7642 6520.