Nominate your top Wirral restaurant – Wirral Chefs Shine returns for 2010

Feb 3 2010 by Lorna Hughes, Bromborough and Bebington News

OUR annual search for Wirral’s top chef begins this week – and forget Masterchef, cooking really doesn’t get any tougher than this.

Over the last six years the best chefs the borough has to offer have slaved over many a hot stove in a bid to win Wirral Chefs Shine.

Another sizzling summer of competition in 2009 ended with Emma Wombwell, from the Cowshed Restaurant at the Wheatsheaf in Raby, picking up the title for the second year in a row.

As 2010 is Wirral’s Year of Food, we’re playing our part by making this year’s competition more exciting and unpredictable than ever.

The six finalists will still be depending on YOUR votes – but this year they also need you to nominate them before they even make it into the competition.

And it doesn’t end there.

In the past shortlisted chefs have been given a list of seasonal ingredients they must use to create three courses.

This year, we’re putting their knowledge of food to the ultimate test by making them pick their own ingredients, which must be seasonal and locally sourced.

But there’s a twist – we’re throwing an extra ingredient into the mix, which all our chefs must use somewhere in their menu.

Our chosen extra is chocolate and we’re hoping to see some real imagination and innovation, whether it’s used in a mouthwatering dessert or even as part of a starter or main course.

The price this year will be £18.95, so we want to see some top quality dishes which would wow even a Michelin inspector.

To add to the pressure, we’ll be inviting a group of professional chefs to each finalist’s big night.

Wirral News readers will again be invited to each final to score the chef and meal and we’ll be revealing their identities in the paper and on our website as the months go on.

A Chefs Shine evening will take place on a Tuesday night from May to October.

On the night diners will be asked to score on the starter, main course, dessert, presentation, use of chocolate, balance, originality and customer service.

The highest scoring chef will pick up the title of Wirral Chef of the Year 2010 at the Wirral Tourism Awards for Excellence in November.

Wirral Chefs Shine 2010 is supported by Wirral Council, the Mersey Partnership, Liverpool Community College and Wirral Met College.

Do you think your favourite Wirral restaurant has what it takes?

To nominate a restaurant, write to Chris Higgins, Wirral Council, Corporate Services, Wallasey Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey CH44 8ED or e-mail chrishiggins@wirral.gov.uk

Include the name and address of the restaurant and why you think the chef should be a finalist in Wirral Chefs Shine.

A panel of industry professionals will judge and pick the final six.

The closing date for nominations is Friday, February 26.