National Chef entry deadline looms

The closing date for entries for the National Chef of the Year 2004 is looming. Chefs over the age of 21 have until 30 April to get their entries in to the Knorr-sponsored event.

Entrants are being asked to create a three-course menu for four people based around a pasta starter, a main course of sea bass and a chocolate dessert.

A shortlist of 40 will take part in a series of semi-final cook-offs on the first two days of the Restaurant Show at London's Olympia in September, with the final taking place on the last day of the show, 22 September. The finalists will be presented with a mystery box of ingredients before their cook-off. National Chef of the Year is run by the Craft Guild of Chefs.