Champagne prize for best British shepherd's pie creator

The chance to win a Champagne reception, dinner and overnight accommodation at a five-star London hotel plus two tickets to a top London show is up for grabs for one lucky caterer.

In conjunction with the Craft Guild of Chefs and the British Culinary Federation, Major International is launching a Great British Shepherd's Pie competition for all caterers.

Five finalists will be selected from paper entries to prepare their recipe from scratch at Major's new Innovation Centre in Northamptonshire in September.

David Bryant, managing director of Major International, said: "We are looking for chefs to push the boundaries with the traditional staple ingredients of minced lamb, onions and potatoes and come up with new recipes giving shepherd's pie an innovative twist and wow factor."

Competitors will be asked to cook six portions of their chosen dish in 60 minutes and explain to a panel of judges how they have incorporated Major's lamb paste stock or lamb powder.

www.majorint.com during British Food Fortnight from 19 September to 4 October.

Entrants must e-mail their shepherd's pie recipes for the attention of Major International development chef Brian Eastment at info@majorint.com - by 1 May, including their name, contact details and place of work or college.