25 February 2008, 14:44 PM
  • Be prepared to be inspired by an exciting array of chefs’ competitions, tastings, live demonstrations from top chefs from around the world and briefings from the UK’s leading foodies and associations.

Food & Drink Expo is the UK’s best attended food exhibition and will feature more than 600 exhibitors, 11 regional food groups, and 11 international pavilions plus a host of overseas exhibitors, as well as the series of special features.

Chefs Live
Aubrey Allen & British Culinary Federation Chef of the Year
Tuesday 8 April
Open to chef and non-chef members of the BCF, providing entry is accompanied by a £35 joining fee. 1st Prize - £2,500 plus 6 bottles of Champagne and a set of knives; 2nd Prize - £500; 3rd Prize - £250

Entry forms for this prestigious competition and further details, please contact Lee-Anne Thorburn, Tel: 02476 421777 Email: lee-anne@aubreyallen.co.uk

All finalists will be invited to attend a Dinner and Awards evening on Tuesday 8th April at Birmingham College of Food, Tourism & Creative Studies.

KNORR National Chef of the Year –semi finals
Tuesday 8 April 2pm – 5pm
Wednesday 9 April 10am – 5pm
The search for the KNORR National Chef of the Year 2008 is officially underway and with some fantastic entries already in the pot for the “live” semi-finals.

Do the entrants have what it takes to join the ranks of Eyck Zimmer, Steve Love, Mark Sargeant and Gordon Ramsay as the winner of this coveted title? If so some one will walk away with the first prize of £10,000.

The biennial competition, culminating in a live final held at the Restaurant Show 2008, is now in its 19th year.

Run by the Craft Guild of Chefs in partnership with KNORR, the competition is the most respected culinary challenge in the industry today. Open to all chefs over the age of 21 working within any sector of the UK hospitality industry, the KNORR National Chef of the Year competition acknowledges and rewards the crème de la crème of today’s chef talent.

Year competition acknowledges and rewards the crème de la crème of today’s chef talent.

Among the chefs cooking up a storm are Canada’s Kevin Maniaci - Executive Chef for Inn on the Twenty in Ontario and Stephen Bulmer - Head Chef of the Brook Hall Cookery School.

Tasting Theatre
Educational, informative and inspirational, the feature also offers hourly sessions on how to taste and test for quality, as well as the opportunity to match new and interesting combinations. Dedicated to the world of tasting you’ll hear inspirational talks from leading champagne, wine and beer sommeliers and cheese & olive oil experts. 

Watch out for: Bordeaux and Champagne tastings with John Roberts;
“Artisan Cheeses of Britain” with Neal’s Yard; plus Tim Stanley Clarke - Graham and Warre Port Tasting; and Innovation in Olive Oils.

And join leading expert Juliet Harbutt, chair, British Cheese Award to discover the very best of British Cheeses and how to increase your sales of British cheese.  Plus unravel the myths and misconceptions behind matching wine and cheese.

Ideas to Dine For!

To enhance exhibitor participation in the show Ideas to Dine For! is a competition designed to find the very best products at the show. Launched in 2002, Ideas to Dine For! receives support from the UK’s major food groups.

An expert panel of independent judges (including buyers from retail and foodservice) will select winning products from 12 different categories.

The competition also presents a Supreme Champion. The official presentation will take place on Monday 7th April at Food and Drink Expo 2008. 
2006 winners included:
Burts Potato Chips, Chegworth Valley Juices, Columbine Cakes, The Kitchen Guru, Steenbergs Organic, Lyme BayWinery, Spanks, Aconbury Sprouts, Toppenrose Dairy, Pieminister, The Pasta Company and Inverawe Smokehouses.

“The competition is a great way to promote the UK food industry, especially regional food and drink. It is important to recognise businesses with real passion, energy and drive and their products demonstrate a commitment to innovative and industry standards,” Jean-Christophe Novelli 2006 Judge

The 2008 Judging Panel will consist of industry experts, food writers & journalists. These passionate food and drink enthusiasts are looking forward to awarding the very best innovative products produced in the UK.  Judges confirmed for the 2008 competition are:
• Silvana Rowe
• Ross Shonhan
• Vanessa Berridge
• Steve Higginson
• Nicola Mallett

The Briefing Theatre will host a high quality seminar programme, featuring leading industry speakers who will address the key and most topical and controversial issues in the food and drink market. Speakers include: Soil Association - “More than profit - The whole organic story “, the presentation will include three case studies related to successful organic food products; and Fairtrade - Mark Varney - “Growth of Fairtrade in the UK and opportunities for the future.”

Food & Drink Expo is taking place with four other leading shows across eight interconnecting halls at the Birmingham NEC April 6 – 9. Single-ticket access to all the shows will provide an ultra-convenient visiting experience.

• Food & Drink Expo (FDE) Halls 6 & 20
• Foodex Meatex Halls 17, 18, 19
• Baking Industry Exhibition (BIE) Hall 9
• Convenience Retailing Show (CRS) Halls 7 & 8
• International Fuel & Forecourt Exhibition (IFFE) Halls 7 & 8


With so much going on booking your ticket is essential:

Register on line at www.foodanddrinkexpo.co.uk
Your entry badge will also allow you free entry to:
Baking Industry Exhibition, Foodex Meatex, Convenience Retailing Show and International Forecourt & Fuel Equipment Show
Or phone the Visitor Hotline 01923 690669

Timetables and more information about the show is also available at www.foodanddrinkexpo.co.uk