The contest will showcase talented young chefs from Northern catering colleges tasked with creating the best vegetarian dish with a given set of ingredients. A team of well-known chefs, led by Paul Heathcote MBE will judge the final, with the winner being announced on 12 May at an awards lunch at Bolton University.

Sam Linford-Platt, head of the Vegetarian Society Cookery School, said: “I can’t wait to see what innovative dishes the catering students create with the ingredients given to them. Through our professional chefs and caterers training, I know how chefs love getting to grips with new ingredients techniques and veggie cooking, so it will be really interesting to see what the next generation is bringing to the table.”

The Vegetarian Society Cookery School teaches professional chefs and home cooks as well as offering free classes to community groups. The cookery school works with caterers to train staff in restaurants, hospitals and schools across the UK to enhance their vegetarian and vegan offerings. 

Stephen Harrison from IWFS added: “It’s great to have the Vegetarian Society Cookery School and the Vegetarian Society experts on board for the competition. We wanted to spotlight the growth of exciting vegetarian options and to celebrate both the fabulous ingredients available, as well as the wonderful talents of the students at our Northern catering colleges.”

The Vegetarian Society is a campaigning charity bringing the benefits of plant-based eating to all.