Oxford Junior Chef of the Year Competition 2024

Are you a junior chef or a chef training in Oxfordshire? 

The City of Oxford Guild of Chefs' Junior Chef of the Year Competition is all about discovering and recognising talent across the Oxfordshire area.

With the annual competition returning for a second year on April 3rd 2024, we invite junior professional chefs based in Oxfordshire to enter for a chance to be in the 2024 cohort of this prestigious competition.

We look forward to welcoming chefs, showcasing talent, and strengthening participants' experience in the industry.

If you are new to the industry (under 4 years experience), are passionate, and have a zest for creativity, why not enter this exciting competition?

Prizes

5 awards and prizes up for grabs

Five winners:
- Meat canapé 
- Fish canapé 
- Vegetarian canapé 
- Plant-based canapé
- One overall winner

The winners will be invited to the annual City of Oxford Guild of Chefs Gala Dinner. This black tie event will be held at at Saïd Business School on 13th April 2024. After serving their winning canapés at the welcome drinks reception for up to 200 guests, the winners will be given their awards and prizes by two internationally renowned chefs. 

The winning canapés will be prepared off-site with all ingredients provided, and then brought to Saïd Business School for serving. Saïd Business School will also provide a space for final touches prior to service.

The Task

Competitors are required to produce four selections of cold canapés (8-10 canapes in each selection); one meat, one fish, one vegetarian and one plant-based.

The canapés must be made using only pre-determined lists of mandatory and optional ingredients, which are displayed in the turquoise box below. No additional ingredients are allowed.

Candidates are encouraged to focus on sustainability and environmental impact when designing their canapés.

These canapés will be produced and judged by a panel of judges at the City of Oxford College on 3 April 2024.

How to enter

To enter the competition, simply fill out the form here.

Application deadline: 1 March 2024

 

Candidates will be contacted by email if your application is successful. 

The Ingredients

At the City of Oxford Guild of Chefs, we’re committed to sourcing local and fresh ingredients, through our partnerships with local suppliers. Locally grown food is of great quality, supports the local economy, and is kind to the environment. That's why we're proud to be using locally produced ingredients for the competition.


Mandatory Ingredients:

Please choose one or both ingredients to use for each of the 4 categories: 

1) Meat: Sobrasada or/and Creedy Carver Duck (leg or breast)

2) Fish: Bibury Trout or/and Langoustines

3) Vegetarian: Sinodun Hill Goats Cheese or/and Laverstoke Mozzarella 

4) Plant-based: Tempeh or/and Carrot


Optional ingredients: 

Click here to view the list of optional ingredients that can be used alongside your mandatory ingredient to make your canapés.

Each canapé must contain your chosen ingredient from the above mandatory ingredient list. 

 

Entry Guidelines

To enter, you must be new to the industry, with no more than four years experience.

Reasons to enter: 

- Gain invaluable experience

- Strengthen your culinary skillset

- A chance to be recognised within the industry

- Challenge yourself and grow as an individual

- Network with internationally renowned chefs

Please Note

There will be photographs taken during the competition and will be used on various platforms.

 

How to enter

To enter the competition, simply fill out the form here.

Application deadline: 1 March 2024

 

Candidates will be contacted by email if your application is successful.