Entries are now open for the Craft Guild of Chefs 2019 National Chef of the Year (NCOTY) competition until 30 March - click here to submit or for more information, including full briefs.

Encouraging chefs aged 24 and over from all areas of the hospitality industry to submit, this year’s competition requires participants to produce a creative menu for two, including a seasonal plant-based vegetarian starter; lamb main course and modern ‘floating island’ dessert incorporating a seasonal fruit of their choice.

Comprising four tough semi-finals – where the 40 shortlisted competitors will cook a three-course meal in just two hours – ten chefs will then go through to the live final at The Restaurant Show on 2 October.

Chair of the judges and executive head chef at Belmond Le Manoir, Gary Jones, explained: “The focus has been on two key things this year – showcasing our exceptional British produce and evolving chefs’s skills.

“I feel passionate about this brief and believe it will display the emerging talent that our UK chefs have to offer. I look forward to seeing how each individual chef interprets the brief to their own style.

“The written entries must entice our judges as only 40 chefs will be selected to compete in the semis and only 10 will reach the final. So keep it brilliantly simple, on point, on time and true to your own culinary flair. Get ready to impress our judges as NCOTY opens so many opportunities and I can’t wait to help judge some of the most-talented up and coming chefs in the UK.”

Now in its 46^th year, the competition has previously crowned world-renowned chefs: Gordon Ramsay, Mark Sargeant, Simon Hulstone, Alyn Williams, Russell Bateman and latest Michelin starred recipient, Hrishikesh Desai, winners.

Key dates:

18 May - 40 shortlisted semi-finalists revealed

12 June - Sheffield College heat

19 June - Le Cordon Bleu, London heat

2 October - National Chef of the Year final at The Restaurant Show

For more information or to enter, please click here.