Teams from 28 countries in the northern and southern hemispheres will compete in Luxembourg from November 20-24, and the Culinary Academy is determined to surpass the host of medals it won two years ago at the IKA Culinary Olympics by entering as many individual entries as possible in this year's hot and cold food challenges. As well as eight seasoned competitors, new team manager Fergus Martin is looking to recruit two juniors, who will be mentored before taking on some of the best chefs and pastry experts in the world. "From personal experience, the World Cup is an opportunity of a lifetime and the atmosphere is like nothing else," said Martin. "We are currently at the stage where we are finding out who wants to go. Once we've got the team together, I will be working with the Craft Guild's Michael Godfrey to prepare the team members, appraising and advising them each step of the way." At the last Culinary World Cup in 2006, Sweden, Switzerland and Singapore led the field. But who are the ones to watch in 2010? "All of us are in awe of the whole world," said Martin. "You see things everyday at these kind of competitions that are extraordinary. The Americans, in particular, are something else. Yes, they throw money at it but they also take a lot of pride in what they do." To join the Culinary Academy and to express an interest in the Culinary World Cup team, call 0208 948 3870 or visit www.craftguildofchefs.org.